The Burden of Educating Illegal Immigrant Students: Why Our Public Schools Are at a Breaking Point
Schools are funded based on local property taxes, state funding, and federal allocations. In cities with high numbers of illegal immigrant students, the tax base is often insufficient to cover the additional costs.
The American public education system is facing an unprecedented crisis. Schools across the country, already struggling with overcrowding, underfunding, and declining academic performance, are now being forced to accommodate an influx of illegal immigrant students. The cost of educating these students is staggering, and the impact on learning outcomes for American children is undeniable.
The Financial Burden on Public Schools
Educating illegal immigrant students is not free. According to estimates from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), the U.S. spends more than $70 billion annually to educate the children of illegal immigrants. With the record-breaking border crisis under the Biden administration, these costs have only increased.
Many of these students require additional resources, including:
English as a Second Language (ESL) programs – With little to no proficiency in English, these students require additional teachers, tutors, and resources.
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) – Many arrive with undiagnosed learning disabilities that require specialized intervention.
Remedial Education – Many illegal immigrant students are behind their American peers academically and require extra resources to catch up.
Mental Health Services – Some students come from war-torn or poverty-stricken regions, requiring psychological support.
Language Barriers and Learning Disparities
One of the most immediate challenges schools face is the language barrier. Teachers who are already overworked must now accommodate students who speak little to no English. This forces school districts to divert funds from other essential services to hire bilingual teachers and purchase materials in multiple languages.
Meanwhile, American students—particularly those in lower-income districts—suffer. Teachers must slow down lessons to accommodate non-English speakers, which lowers academic standards across the board. Instead of fostering an environment where all students can excel, classrooms become chaotic, unfocused, and divided by language barriers.
The Strain on Special Education Services
A significant percentage of illegal immigrant students require Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) due to learning disabilities, emotional trauma, or gaps in formal education. Special education services in the U.S. are already overwhelmed, with many schools facing staff shortages and underfunding. Adding thousands of additional students in need of these services strains resources, making it harder for American-born students with disabilities to receive the support they need.
Why Schools Can’t Keep Up
Schools are funded based on local property taxes, state funding, and federal allocations. In cities with high numbers of illegal immigrant students, the tax base is often insufficient to cover the additional costs. As a result, school districts turn to state and federal governments for more funding, taking money away from programs that benefit all students.
Additionally, teachers are leaving the profession in record numbers due to increased workloads, larger class sizes, and a lack of discipline in schools struggling to accommodate students who come from vastly different educational backgrounds. This leads to teacher shortages, which then impacts student performance.
The Department of Education and the Need for Reform
The Department of Education (DOE) has failed to provide meaningful solutions to this crisis. Instead of enforcing policies that prioritize American students, the DOE continues to push initiatives that make it easier for illegal immigrant children to enroll without addressing the underlying challenges.
A full revamp of the DOE is necessary, including:
Prioritizing American students – Public education should serve American citizens first. Funding should be allocated based on need, not on open-border policies.
Stronger vetting for school enrollment – Schools should not be required to enroll students who are in the country illegally without additional federal funding.
Expanding school choice – Parents should have the right to send their children to schools that are not burdened by over-enrollment and underfunding.
Holding local governments accountable – Sanctuary city policies force taxpayers to foot the bill for illegal immigration’s education costs.
How Other Developed Nations Handle Immigration and Education
Unlike the U.S., many developed countries take a stricter stance on immigration and education.
Japan: Enforces strict immigration policies that limit illegal entry, preventing its schools from becoming overwhelmed.
Australia: Requires international students to pay tuition and prove financial stability before entering the country.
Sweden: While Sweden has a more open immigration policy, it has faced severe challenges integrating migrant students, leading to failing schools and increased crime rates.
Canada: Prioritizes skilled immigration and requires newcomers to meet strict education and employment criteria before allowing them to settle permanently.
A Broken Border Policy Leads to a Broken Education System
At the root of this crisis is America’s broken border policy. The Biden administration’s lax enforcement has encouraged millions of illegal crossings, exacerbating an already dire situation. When illegal immigrants enter the country, it is not just a border issue—it becomes a school issue, a taxpayer issue, and a community issue.
A secure border is essential for a functional education system. If America does not regain control of its borders and revamp its immigration policies, public schools will continue to decline. American students, particularly those in struggling communities, will bear the brunt of these policy failures.
The Path Forward
To protect the future of American education, the government must:
Enforce border security to reduce the strain on public schools.
Require proof of legal residency for public school enrollment.
Give states more control over how they handle education funding.
Empower parents to choose better education options for their children through school choice initiatives.
American children deserve an education system that prioritizes their needs, not one that is stretched thin by failed policies. If the U.S. continues on its current path, the burden on public schools will only grow, leading to lower academic performance, frustrated teachers, and generations of students left behind.
The choice is clear: Secure the border, revamp the Department of Education, and prioritize American students first. Anything less is a disservice to our children and the future of our nation.
