New York City Mayor Eric Adams has appointed a multi-agency task force to engage migrant parents about sending their children to school amid concerns of exploitation and child labor.
CBS News reported that the move is in response to City Councilwoman Joann Ariola, who has been lobbying for the education of migrant children for more than a year. Ariola expressed concern about the children, some as young as five and six-years-old who sell snacks on subways and the streets.
"They're receiving debit cards now. They have lodging. They have free call centers. They have free medical care. They're getting free education. There is no need for migrants to become part of the problem of illegal street vending," said Ariola.
Adams said it was common practice for children to sell goods on the streets in their home countries.
"I saw that in Ecuador. I saw that in Mexico. I saw that in Colombia. So sometimes people bring their culture, and how practices are done, into the city, and we want to make sure that people understand that children should be in school," Adams said.
The mayor added that the task team would inform the parents about safe after-school care programs.
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