New York City has filed a lawsuit against more than a dozen charter bus companies for their involvement in Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s operation to transport migrants to urban areas. The city alleges that these companies knowingly took part in violating a New York law that sets limits on transferring “needy persons” across state lines. The lawsuit seeks over $700 million in damages to cover the expenses incurred in caring for approximately 33,000 migrants who have arrived in the city on charter buses since April 2022.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a moderate Democrat, has been making efforts to counter the influx of busloads of migrants sent from Texas on a daily basis. He seeks to address the situation caused by Texas Governor Abbott, a Republican, who aims to draw attention to President Joe Biden’s border policy. Mayor Adams issued an executive order to regulate drop-off times for buses and require advanced notice of their arrival after fourteen buses arrived in the city last month. However, this move led to multiple bus companies leaving migrants in neighboring towns, sparking local officials’ anger.
Some of the charter bus companies named in the lawsuit claim to have been unaware of the implications of their involvement. David Jones, an employee at Buckeye Coach LLC, emphasized that they are merely transportation companies and do not make policies. These companies seem surprised by the legal action taken against them and assert their limited responsibility in the matter.
New York City’s recent focus on the bus companies is partly due to the legal protections offered to the state of Texas under sovereign immunity, a doctrine that shields states from certain lawsuits. This complicates the city’s efforts to hold the state accountable, prompting them to target the bus companies instead. However, it remains uncertain whether Governor Abbott will respond or address the situation, as an inquiry sent to his office has not received an immediate response.
The lawsuit rests on a provision in New York law that applies to the “bad faith” transfer of people across state lines. Any individual who knowingly brings a needy person from another state into New York for the purpose of burdening public resources is obligated to cover the expenses of that person or remove them from the state. However, critics of the legal action, such as Murad Awawdeh, executive director of the Immigration Coalition, argue that Mayor Adams is using this lawsuit as a distraction from addressing the larger challenges of caring for newly arrived migrants in the city.
The lawsuit filed by New York City against charter bus companies shines a light on the complexities of responsibilities and the struggle to hold parties accountable in the midst of a migrant crisis. While the city seeks to recoup expenses and safeguard its resources, the bus companies claim limited involvement and Mayor Adams faces criticism for his management of the situation.