In a significant development, the House of Representatives has passed a bill that seeks to prohibit the use of federal funds for housing illegal immigrants on federal lands. The legislation, known as The Protecting Our Communities from Failure to Secure the Border Act of 2023, was introduced by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., and received a vote of 224-203, with one member voting "present." However, the bill's fate remains uncertain as it is unlikely to be taken up by the Senate.

The primary objective of the bill is to prevent federal funds from being allocated towards migrant encampments in federal parks and to terminate the lease at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York, which has served as a makeshift tent city for up to 2,000 migrants and has generated controversy.

Rep. Malliotakis expressed her concerns about the encampments, stating, "Turning our federal parks into encampments for unvetted migrants from all over the world is unfair to surrounding communities and the taxpayers being forced to foot the bill while having their public spaces taken away."

The passage of the bill prompted Rep. Malliotakis to call on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to advance the legislation in the Senate. She took to social media, tweeting, "It's time for @SenSchumer to pass this & our Border Security Act to end this crisis bankrupting his own city!"

The backdrop to this legislation is the struggle faced by major cities, including New York City, in managing the influx of illegal migrants. New York City alone is estimated to bear a burden of approximately $12 billion to house illegal immigrants. To address this crisis, the city has already made significant budget cuts.

Under the bill, officially labeled H.R.5283, federal funding would be specifically barred from being used to provide housing for illegal immigrants on any land under the purview of federal land management agencies. This includes entities such as the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Forest Service. Notably, both Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island and Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn fall within this purview, along with other parks in the Gateway National Recreation Area.

Prior to the vote, the White House expressed opposition to Malliotakis's bill, citing concerns about the potential restrictions it would impose on the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture in making decisions regarding their lands and resources, particularly in emergency situations.

As the bill now heads to the Senate, its chances of being taken up remain uncertain. Nevertheless, its passage in the House signals a growing concern and debate about the housing of illegal immigrants on federal lands, making it a topic that is likely to remain in the spotlight.

Note: The provided information did not mention an exact date, entity, or number related to the bill's passing in the House.