Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams repeatedly criticized GOP Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for responding to an unsustainable influx of undocumented migrants by transporting a small portion of them to other areas of the country — including the Big Apple.
Adams has also claimed that the arrival of thousands of migrants threatens to “destroy” the nation’s most populous city. Most recently, he issued an executive order mandating that charter bus companies transporting migrants notify city officials at least 32 hours before arriving.
The action announced on Wednesday also restricts the times and locations where migrants can be dropped off within New York City limits.
Companies found to be in violation of these parameters could face criminal charges and/or have their buses impounded by city officials.
The governor once again pointed a finger at Abbott in defending his executive order.
“We really are saying to bus operators and companies, do not participate in Governor Abbott’s actions,” he insisted. “We want them to take the appropriate actions of being responsible by taking those actions during the hours we are laying out. Those asylum seekers on the buses, they will not be penalized any way at all. This does not impact those passengers on the buses.”
For his part, Abbott has continued to defend his administration’s policies, portraying the migrant transports as a necessary component in dealing with a border crisis that has become exponentially worse since President Joe Biden entered office.
Sanctuary city Chicago started obstructing and targeting our busing mission.
Texas will now expand our operation to include flights to Chicago.
Until Biden steps up to secure the border, we will continue to provide overwhelmed Texas border towns with much-needed relief. pic.twitter.com/kRoK8KBpJ2
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) December 20, 2023
After dozens of migrants were sent to New York City as part of the Texas operation, an Adams spokesperson condemned the effort.
“Last night — in another inhumane act of treating human beings like political pawns — Texas attempted to send an unannounced and uncoordinated plane with migrants to New York City that was only diverted to Philadelphia due to extreme weather, but whose passengers were then transported here via bus,” the source complained. “Last week, 14 rogue buses from the State of Texas arrived in a single night, the highest recorded by the Arrival Center.”
Adams himself accused Abbott of trying to “destabilize cities” through this program despite the fact that the number of migrants being transferred from Texas represents only a small fraction of the thousands of migrants who illegally cross into the state from Mexico each day.
