New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said Monday that over 1,800 migrants had been dropped off in the state, as a way to get around New York City's new rules banning unannounced bus arrivals.
The Garden State has become the drop-off point for bus loads of migrants from Texas and Louisiana, following NYC Mayor Eric Adams' executive order which kicked in at the start of the year.
Adams' office previously announced it was suing 17 charter bus companies for money he claimed they owed the city for the cash it had spent on caring for the migrants the companies had transported. Texas Governor Greg Abbott hit back at the announcement, calling the claims "baseless."
Companies then began dropping people off at train stations in New Jersey, where they could then take public transit into Manhattan as a work-around. At least 1,800 had arrived since Dec. 31, as of Monday morning.
Because of this, Murphy sent a letter to the charter bus companies on Monday, saying they also have to give his state's officials 32 hours notice if they want to bring asylum seekers.
“As we continue to see more migrants arrive to our state at the hands of the Governor of Texas, who is reportedly funding the passengers’ transportation with taxpayer funds, notice to New Jersey officials in advance of these individuals’ anticipated arrival is critical to ensuring the health and safety of passengers once they arrive in New Jersey,” Murphy said in a press release.
“Additionally, because we know the vast majority of these individuals are intending to travel to New York City, this information will be shared with our colleagues across the Hudson to ensure the passengers’ health and safety there.”
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The new rules set out in the letter include requirements for companies to alert the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management of the number of people on each bus, as well as a break-down of those who are single, in a family group or are acting as chaperones.
Intended drop-off locations must also be shared, as well as the timing.
"We appreciated your anticipated cooperation in providing this information to help ensure the well-being and safety of your passengers," Murphy said in the letter. "In addition to requesting this information, we reserve all rights to take appropriate action against any person acting in violation of any applicable laws."
Abbott has arranged for some 95,000 migrants to be sent to sanctuary cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles and Denver, as part of his protest against President Biden's immigration policies. The White House has called his scheme "shameful."
New York City has welcomed in some 164,000 migrants since the spring of 2022 and still cares for several thousand.
At the southwest border with Mexico, Customs and Border Protection officers are struggling to keep up with the thousands of arrivals each day at ports of entry and coming through gaps in the border wall.