The White House issued a statement of administration policy saying the bill amounts to federal overreach.
"The administration is strongly opposed to H.R. 3941, the Schools Not Shelters Act of 2023, which would supersede local control, interfering with the ability of states and municipalities to effectively govern and make decisions about their school buildings," it reads.
The bill would prohibit educational institutions that receive federal funding from using their facilities to shelter noncitizens, the statement continues, even though "such noncitizens are permitted to do so under the law."
Notably, the statement does not include a veto threat, though the bill faces long odds of passage in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Supporters of the bill claim it protects the safety of young students.
"By housing illegal immigrants on school campuses, children are being put at risk," Rep. John Rose (R-TN) said on the House floor Monday. "And elected officials who endorse these plans are sending a clear message to children and parents that illegal immigrants and President Biden’s failure to secure the southern border matter more than their education."
More than 5.5 million illegal immigrants have crossed the border since Biden took office, Rose continued, calling for border wall construction to continue and the Remain in Mexico program to be reinstated.
"But just like we’ve seen with Bidenomics, Biden-gration has completely failed the American people," he said.