In New Jersey, elected leaders want nothing to do with the ongoing migrant crisis dispute between New York City’s Democratic Mayor Eric Adams and Texas’ Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. However, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is criticizing Abbott’s actions, emphasizing the need for a solution.
“The last thing we need is governors like Greg Abbott doing political stunts,” Murphy said. “This is not a time for stunts. This is a time to figure out a solution that is broad and comprehensive.”
In the last week, Abbott has bused more than 1,000 migrants to New Jersey after Mayor Adams signed an executive order requiring chartered buses from Texas to give 32-hour advance notice when dropping off migrants. The order also limits the time those buses can arrive in the port authority.
Abbott circumvented the executive order and instructed the buses to deliver migrants to New Jersey, specifically in municipalities such as Secaucus, Trenton, and Edison. This was done to enable the migrants to utilize public transportation to reach Gotham.
New Jersey cities — like Secaucus, Trenton and Edison — prompted local leaders to express resource limitations. To ensure migrants do not stay, New Jersey law enforcement officers have been told to make sure migrants board trains for New York City, according to photos obtained by the New York Post.
New Jersey leaders said they don’t have the resources to care for the migrants.
“This is not a local issue,” said Edison Mayor Sam Joshi on “Good Day New York.” “I can’t be any more clear that as a mayor, you know, Edison does not have the ability or means or financial means to support migrants.”
Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the city’s inability to accommodate the influx.
“We don’t have the capacity to house them or to feed them or take care of their medical needs as much as we would like to,” said Gusciora in an interview with CBS Philadelphia.
However, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop expressed a willingness to help migrants.
“At the end of the day, they’re desperate people who need help,” Fulop said. “And we want to do the right thing and be helpful.”
In response, Mayor Adams is suing 17 charter bus companies for $708 million, accusing them of violating state law. He criticized Abbott’s use of migrants as political pawns, labeling it chaotic and inhumane.
Abbott claims to have transported over 33,000 migrants to New York City and 62,000 to other “sanctuary cities” under Operation Lone Star.
Meanwhile, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a record-high of 302,000 migrants crossed the U.S. southern border in December.
