Judge Rules New York Cannot Block Migrant Bus Loads From Texas
A state court judge has ruled that New York City cannot prevent Texas from sending buses carrying migrants who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border to the city.
Judge Mary Rosado ruled on Thursday that the law Mayor Eric Adams tried to use to restrict the influx of migrant buses into New York City is unconstitutional, as reported by the Associated Press (AP).
Rosado explained that the law “violates a fundamental right — the right to travel” and that states cannot control interstate travel based solely on individuals' socioeconomic status. She urged the city to seek a solution from Congress rather than rely on what she called an “antiquated, unconstitutional statute” to restrict individuals’ right to enter New York based on their economic background.
The court’s decision strikes down the lawsuit Adams filed in January against several bus and transportation companies. In an effort to manage the migrant influx, Adams sued 17 charter companies and sought $708 million in compensation to cover the costs of handling migrants sent from Texas by Governor Greg Abbott.
“We are reviewing our legal options to address the costs shifted to New York City due to Texas’s busing plan,” Adams’ spokesperson Liz Garcia said in a statement to The Hill.
Governor Abbott began sending buses with migrants to Democratic-led cities in April 2022 as a protest against the Biden administration's approach to managing border crossings.
A state court judge has ruled that New York City cannot prevent Texas from sending buses carrying migrants who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border to the city.
