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Schools Not Shelters Act

H.R. 3711 · 118th Congress · May 25, 2023 · Lineage

A BILL

To prohibit the use of elementary, secondary, and post-secondary school facilities to provide shelter for unlawfully present aliens, and for other purposes.

Section 1 Short title

This Act may be cited as the “Schools Not Shelters Act”.

Sec. 2 Prohibition on use of school facilities to shelter certain aliens

(a)
In general— As a condition on receipt of Federal financial assistance under any applicable program by an elementary school, secondary school, or institution of higher education, the facilities of the school or institution may not be used to provide shelter for specified aliens unless—
(1)
the facility is a dormitory facility; and
(2)
the alien pays the amount normally assessed residents of the dormitory facility for room and board.
(b)
Construction— Subsection (a) shall apply without regard to sections 401 and 411 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (2 U.S.C. 1611, 1621).
(c)
Definitions— For purposes of this Act:
(1)
The term “alien” has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)).
(2)
The term “applicable program” has the meaning such term in section 400 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1221).
(3)
The term “dormitory facility” means—
(A)
institutionally owned or operated dormitory housing (including dining facilities inside such housing); or
(B)
another facility customarily used for housing students, faculty, or staff.
(4)
The terms “elementary school” and “secondary school” have the meaning given such terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(5)
The term “Federal financial assistance” has the meaning given such term in section 7501(a)(5) of title 31, United States Code.
(6)
The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(7)
The term “shelter” excludes short-term emergency shelter made necessary by a natural disaster.
(8)
The term “specified alien” means an alien who—
(A)
is unlawfully present in the United States; or
(B)
(i)
has not been admitted (as defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)));
(ii)
is in removal proceedings or has been ordered removed; and
(iii)
is not being detained by the Secretary of Homeland Security during the pendency of those removal proceedings or until removed.