New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration has filed a lawsuit against 17 bus companies for allegedly transporting roughly 33,000 migrants from Texas to New York. The filing was made to the New York Supreme Court and accuses Texas of violating the New York Social Services Law, pointing the finger at Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s alleged plan to expel those entering the U.S., from Mexico.
The lawsuit is born out of an influx of migrants to Texas beginning in 2022. As part of his response, Governor Abbott initiated an operation to transport those settling in the U.S. from Mexico to other states, primarily targetting Democratic states. The lawsuit alleges that the bus companies, under the direction of Abbott, received approximately $1,650 per individual transported—an amount deemed significantly inflated when compared to the cost of a single one-way ticket.
The lawsuit demands a settlement of $708 million from the companies to cover the costs associated in supporting the incoming migrants and for the expenses the city has already incurred. In making his case, Adams suggests that these bus companies knowingly brought “a needy person from out of state for the purpose of making him a public charge.” A sentiment echoed by Mayor Adams in a recorded video message.
In response to the lawsuit, Texas underscored what they perceive as the Biden administration’s failure to enforce secure borders, forcing the state to act independently. In a Twitter statement, Governor Abbott called the lawsuit “baseless,” suggesting person transported to New York had done so voluntarily, following clearance from the Biden Administration to remain in the U.S. and threatened to hold Mayor Adams legally accountable for his allegations.
News of this lawsuit follows an executive order issued by Adams a week earlier which set restrictions on the arrival times of buses in the city, putting into force a 32-hour notice and specifying the time of arrival. Following this decree, many buses began transporting the migrants to areas outside of New York City, who then found alternative means of reaching their final destination.
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