Texas Governor Greg Abbott has denounced a “baseless” multi-million dollar lawsuit filed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Jan. 4 against charter bus companies transporting immigrants to NYC, arguing the legal challenge is invalid.
“It’s clear that Mayor Adams knows nothing about the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, or about the constitutional right to travel that has been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court,” he wrote.
“Every migrant bussed or flown to New York City did so voluntarily, after having been authorized by the Biden administration to remain in the United States.
“As such, they have constitutional authority to travel across the country that Mayor Adams is interfering with,” he continued.“If the Mayor persists in this lawsuit, he may be held legally accountable for his violations.”
Texas Plan to ‘Sow Chaos’
According to the lawsuit, the 17 companies “knowingly implemented Governor Abbott’s publicly articulated plan” to bus immigrants to NYC “without any regard for the individuals they were transporting or an effort to help manage this humanitarian crisis.”The lawsuit also accuses the bus and transportation companies of profiting from Mr. Abbott’s alleged plan to “sow chaos and shift the traditional cost of migration at the southern border to New York City and other cities across the country.”
NYC is seeking $708 million in compensation in the lawsuit, with officials arguing the so-called “sanctuary city” has incurred millions of dollars in chargers in the last 20 months alone by way of paying for shelter, food, and health care for immigrants.
‘Reckless Political Ploys’
That law states that “[a]ny person who knowingly brings, or causes to be brought, a needy person from out of state into this state for the purpose of making him a public charge…shall be obligated to convey such person out of state or support him at his own expense.”In a statement announcing the lawsuit, Mr. Adams said New York City “has and will always do our part to manage this humanitarian crisis” but cannot bear the costs of “reckless political ploys from the state of Texas alone.”
“These companies have violated state law by not paying the cost of caring for these migrants, and that’s why we are suing to recoup approximately $700 million already spent to care for migrants sent here in the last two years by Texas,” he said.
“Governor Abbott’s continued use of migrants as political pawns is not only chaotic and inhumane but makes clear he puts politics over people. Today’s lawsuit should serve as a warning to all those who break the law in this way.”
New York City is also seeking all costs for immigrants who continue to be sent to the city in the future.
Last month, Mr. Adams issued an executive order to clamp down on charter bus companies transporting illegal immigrants from Texas, stating that such firms must notify the city’s Emergency Management Office at least 32 hours before arriving in the city.
Chicago has also followed suit with similar actions, including impounding buses sent by Texas to drop off illegal immigrants in the city.
