New York — In a shocking and unexpected move by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to stop sending asylum seekers to New York City, Mayor Eric Adams has filed a lawsuit against 17 charter bus companies that use the Lone Star State.
He wants the bus companies to reimburse the city for the hundreds of millions of dollars it cost them to shelter them.
Call it Empire State Strikes Back.
“New York City will always do our part to manage this humanitarian crisis, but we cannot afford the cost of reckless political tactics from the state of Texas alone,” Adams said.
Read more: Mayor Eric Adams is using the NYPD to block Texas Governor Greg Abbott's maneuver to take asylum seekers to NJ.
The mayor, starting in spring 2022, sued the bus companies Abbott used to transport asylum seekers to New York after officials showed them maps and gave them bar-coded bracelets clearly marking their destinations, which were then checked by drivers. To make sure they land in the city.
The lawsuit seeks $708 million to reimburse the city for the cost of shelter, food and health care.
“These companies have violated state law by not paying the cost of caring for these immigrants,” Adams said.
Read more: Governor Murphy says hundreds of asylum seekers are passing through New Jersey train stations
The lawsuit accuses the companies of “bad faith” conduct and violations of New York Social Services Law by dumping asylum seekers in New York City without providing support.
“Governor Abbott's continued use of immigrants as political pawns is not only disturbing and inhumane, it makes clear that he is putting politics over people,” Adams said.
Abbott's decision was apparently the last straw for the mayor Buses will be sent to New Jersey train stations connecting to New York City to override the executive order By limiting the number of days and hours asylum seekers can get here, buses are available.
Read more: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Gov. Bill Murphy Targets Congress Over New Jersey's Emerging Asylum Seeker Crisis
Adams seeks to form a regional coalition to stop Abbott.
“I contacted the governor of New Jersey last night. We also spoke with the governor of Connecticut. We will continue to communicate with our colleagues in the region,” Adams said.
Adams and Abbott engaged in a serious game of Texas Hold'em poker over the asylum seeker crisis. It remains to be seen whether this suit will force Abbott to throw in his chips.
