New York City has filed a lawsuit seeking over $700 million from Texas charter bus companies to cover the expenses of housing and caring for migrants who have been transported to the city. The lawsuit aims to recover past shelter, food, and healthcare costs for migrants brought from Texas, as well as future costs for migrants already in the city and those who may be transported in the future. According to the mayor’s office, more than 33,600 migrants have already been transported to New York City from Texas.
The mayor’s administration has been trying to find ways to address the influx of buses bringing migrants to the city. Mayor Eric Adams hopes that this lawsuit will serve as a warning to deter future transports. Adams stated that while New York City is committed to managing the humanitarian crisis, the costs cannot be borne by the city alone. He criticized Texas Governor Abbott’s scheme to transport tens of thousands of migrants to New York City, aiming to overwhelm the social services system.
To regulate the arrival of migrant buses, Mayor Adams issued an executive order in December that restricts drop-offs to specific hours and locations. Buses are now required to only drop off migrants between 8:30 a.m. and noon on weekdays, at a designated location near the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The order also stipulates a notice period of 32 hours before arrival. This executive order will take effect this weekend.
In an attempt to circumvent the executive order, some charter buses have been dropping off migrants in New Jersey cities before they board trains to New York. The mayor of Secaucus, New Jersey, reported that this loophole is being exploited to “thwart” the order. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s administration is collaborating with federal and local partners, including New York City, to address this issue.
The City of New York accuses the bus companies of acting in “bad faith” and profiting from bringing migrants to the city. Many of the companies named in the lawsuit are the ones currently evading compliance with the executive order by transporting migrants to New Jersey train stations.
Governor Kathy Hochul of New York supports the city’s lawsuit. NBC New York has reached out to the bus companies and Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s office for their comments on the lawsuit.
In summary, New York City has filed a lawsuit seeking over $700 million from Texas charter bus companies to cover the costs associated with housing and caring for migrants transported to the city. The lawsuit aims to recover past and future expenses. The city accuses the bus companies of acting in “bad faith” by profiting from bringing migrants to the city. Mayor Eric Adams hopes the lawsuit will deter future transports and highlight the need for shared responsibility in managing the humanitarian crisis.