Velázquez calls on Labor secretary to halt Puerto Rico Job Corps shutdown
Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez, D-N.Y., is calling on the U.S. Department of Labor to reverse its plan to phase out operations at contract-run Job Corps centers, warning of the consequences for Puerto Rico if the two centers on the island are closed.
In a letter to Labor Secretary Lori Chávez-DeRemer, Velázquez and five other members of Congress stressed the importance of the Arecibo and Aguadilla Job Corps centers, which serve hundreds of low-income youth.
“The work carried out by the Puerto Rico Job Corps centers is a necessity,” the lawmakers wrote. “Their holistic approach enables students not only to earn their high school diploma but also to transition into stable employment that allows them to support themselves and their families.”
The federal plan would end operations at contract-run Job Corps sites by June 30. In Puerto Rico, the closure would leave nearly 700 students without access to essential services and result in an estimated 240 lost jobs, according to the letter. Of those affected, at least 287 students currently depend on Job Corps housing, meals, training and health care.
The centers — Garrochales in Arecibo and Ramey in Aguadilla — offer certifications in construction, health care, culinary arts, technology and other fields. They also connect students to civic engagement and volunteer programs.
Velázquez warned that cutting such services would be especially harmful in Puerto Rico, where youth unemployment and poverty remain high and where Job Corps centers fill critical service gaps.
“The federal government cannot afford to eliminate programs that offer a lifeline to thousands of low-income youth, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds,” she said.
The letter also questioned the Labor Department’s decision-making process, asking whether any impact analysis had been conducted and whether high-performing centers like those in Puerto Rico were considered separately. The lawmakers urged the department to pause the closures pending congressional review and to clarify how it would ensure continued support for current students.
Adding urgency to the matter, a federal judge in New York issued a temporary restraining order on June 4, halting the closures pending further legal review. A hearing set for June 17 will determine whether the Labor Department must suspend the phaseout nationwide.
Velázquez’s appeal was backed by Reps. Emmanuel Cleaver, D-Mo.; Delia Ramírez, D-Ill.; Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.; Darren Soto, D-Fla.; and Pablo José Hernández, D-P.R. The lawmakers included personal testimonials from current and former Puerto Rico Job Corps students to highlight the program’s impact.
