New Jersey officials are taking proactive measures to prevent the overflow of migrants from burdening the state. In fact, they are going as far as stationing police officers to guide asylum seekers from the US border onto NJ Transit trains bound for Manhattan immediately after they disembark from their buses.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is currently mobilizing the state’s mayors to join forces and present a united front, while New York City Mayor Eric Adams is appealing to Murphy to shoulder a portion of the overwhelming migrant burden that is overwhelming the five boroughs.
According to a source familiar with the matter, New Jersey has taken a bold stance on the issue. “New Jersey just said, f–k this,” the source stated candidly. To ensure a smooth transition, New Jersey Transit police officers were stationed in Secaucus to guide them onto the train to New York.
According to multiple sources in New Jersey, the past few days have been quite chaotic. Approximately twenty migrant buses arrived at train stations, accompanied by “chaperones”. Subsequently, NJ Transit police took charge and assisted in guiding nearly 1,000 asylum seekers across the river.
The process has proven to be successful thus far, as no migrants have chosen to remain in Jersey.
Over the weekend, a total of 1,017 asylum seekers were transported to New Jersey by 23 buses. Out of these, 953 individuals continued their journey by boarding trains into Manhattan, while the remaining asylum seekers went to different destinations. This information was obtained from data reviewed by The Post.
Last week, Adams took a significant step by issuing an executive order to restrict the number of migrant buses entering the country from the border, particularly those originating from Texas. This latest development adds an interesting twist to an ongoing crisis.
Adams insists on receiving a 32-hour notice prior to the arrival of the buses in Manhattan. Additionally, the buses are only allowed to park at a designated spot on West 41st Street, but only between 8:30 a.m. and noon.
Charter bus companies found a way around the order by bringing hundreds of migrants to various stations in New Jersey, such as Secaucus, Fanwood, Edison, and Trenton. These individuals are then directed to board transit trains heading towards Manhattan, which are not subject to Adams’ order.
The Adams administration in New York City has made it clear that they have been proactive in reaching out to all towns along transit lines to ensure that the suburbs are not caught off guard. Deputy Mayor Fabien Levy emphasized this point, stating that they have reached out to “every town” in their efforts.
Local government officials in Jersey expressed their surprise and frustration as they revealed that they had received no prior notification about the recent news.
City Hall spokesperson Kayla Mamelak admitted that it was impossible to predict where Governor Abbott would send migrants before the order was issued. She emphasized the importance of their ongoing outreach efforts to other localities.
Adams has also made appeals to neighboring municipalities that have convenient access to the Big Apple, urging them to join his efforts in implementing orders that restrict arrival times. Unfortunately, his requests have not been met with a favorable response.
Staffers mentioned that there was a scheduled phone meeting between him and Murphy this week, but neither side has confirmed whether the conversation actually took place.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Murphy informed reporters that his state would persist in directing migrants towards Manhattan. He emphasized that New York City was chosen due to the presence of federal support and available resources.
He further stated that the situation is under control and he anticipates that it will remain that way.
Murphy’s remarks regarding federal assistance may come as a surprise to New York, given Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul’s persistent appeals to the White House for aid in handling the crisis.
Local officials in New Jersey have expressed their concerns about their ability to handle the influx of migrants.
Secaucus Town Administrator Gary Jeffas expressed his confusion, stating, “It doesn’t make any sense.”
Jeffas expressed concerns about the lack of information regarding bus schedules at the train station. He questioned how they would know when buses were arriving so that they could be prepared to redirect them if necessary. According to Jeffas, addressing this issue would require a more comprehensive plan that goes beyond just the Secaucus area.
According to sources, Adams apparently wanted to urge Murphy to issue an executive order like the one he successfully implemented in New York City. However, this topic was not even discussed during a conference call between New Jersey state and local officials on Wednesday.
Jeffas expressed how different the transportation system is in New Jersey compared to other places. He mentioned that buses in New Jersey have the convenience of dropping off passengers directly at the train stations. However, he also pointed out that in their area, buses are required to come to a stop before entering the train station.
According to him, “How do we determine their arrival time so that we can have personnel present to deny them entry? Our centers aren’t operational round the clock,” he expressed concern.
Jeffas highlighted that even if they desired to, they lack the jurisdiction to do so. The authority lies with Murphy and the lawmakers in Trenton.
Since the spring of 2022, approximately 162,000 migrants have made their way to New York City, causing a significant strain on the city’s shelters and finances. As a result of this crisis, City Hall has been forced to make difficult cuts in services.
A significant number of these migrants originate from Texas, where Governor Greg Abbott persistently transports them to sanctuary cities such as New York and Chicago.
Earlier this week, Abbott proudly announced on the internet that he had dispatched 95,000 asylum seekers towards the north. This includes a staggering 33,600 individuals who were sent to New York starting from August 2022. Abbott expressed his determination to persist with this course of action.
In a post on X, he expressed his concern about the situation at the Texas border towns, comparing it to the relatively lower impact seen in sanctuary cities like NYC and Chicago. He emphasized the need for a change in Biden’s open border policies and pledged to continue their transportation mission until that happens.
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