Dozens of migrants who were sent by bus to New York City by Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott and dropped off at New Jersey train stations to evade New York arrival restrictions never made it into the city.
Instead, they were picked up by family members in New Jersey, said Gov. Phil Murphy.
The majority, however, proceeded to New York City by train without any incident, he said.
Speaking after an unrelated event in Newark on Wednesday about the busloads of migrants, Murphy said the country needed immigration reform. But the Democrat criticized Abbot, a Republican, for using people who had crossed the southern border to score political points.
“The last thing we need is governors like Greg Abbott doing political stunts. This is not a time for stunts. This is a time to figure out a solution that’s broad and comprehensive and that’s consistent with American values,” Murphy said. “Securing our borders but doing it responsibly, equitably, consistent that we remain the beacon on the hill, if you will.”
According to Murphy, there were about 20 buses that came through New Jersey, “with just under 1,000 folks on board.”
They stopped at train stations in Trenton, Secaucus, Edison and Jersey City, where the migrants were then directed to board trains for New York, in what officials in both New Jersey and New York said was a move intended to sidestep an executive order by New York Mayor Eric Adams limiting where and when buses carrying asylum seekers could discharge their passengers.
As late as Monday, two additional buses from Texas pulled into the Secaucus Junction station to let out others bound for New York, according to Secaucus officials, who have counted at least six chartered buses that dropped off people there.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Adams defended his executive order and took aim at the Texas governor as well.
“The goal of the EO is to coordinate people coming to our city so we can utilize our manpower better, so that we could utilize how to have spaces for people. So, that’s the goal,” Adams said.
Gov. Abbott, he charged, was just using people as pawns.
“We are dealing with a bully right now, and everything is on the table that conforms with the law,” Adams said. “We’re going to win because we’re on the side of right. We’re on the side of right that human beings should not be treated in an inhumane manner. Our country has always been a country of immigrants, a country of rules and regulations, and we will utilize those rules and regulations to stop what he’s doing to cities in America.”
A spokeswoman for Abbott’s office has said only that Texas was organizing and paying for all transportation.
Murphy, asked if the state had a plan should more and more asylum seekers come to New Jersey, said only that “there is a plan in place. And that is New York City has the federal resources, and that’s been deemed to be a location, a destination.”
The governor said he was not supporting the current immigration reality in America right now, “and I’m certainly not supporting stunts from governors like Greg Abbott.” But it’s clear, he continued, where the resources are right now. And that was in New York.
“New York is where there is federal support and resources available,” Murphy said. “We’re in constant communication with New York, and we will continue to be.”
Still, he noted that as many as “four or five dozen folks” were picked up by family members after they were dropped off without warning at train stations in New Jersey.
“And I have no issue with that,” Murphy said. “I would just say at the moment, this is a manageable situation and I suspect it will continue to be. But most importantly, please God, as a nation, comprehensive immigration reform once and for all. In the meantime, no stunts. Let’s sit at a table and figure this out.”
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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.
Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL
