Another busload of cross-border migrants from Texas arrived in the Big Apple Sunday morning as a top city official blasted the Lone Star State governor’s policy and a former New York Gov. called it “brilliant.” .
Thirty-one young adult migrants wearing masks got off a white bus around 7 a.m. at the Port Authority bus terminal in Manhattan amid the ongoing public war of words between Texas Republican Gov. , Greg Abbott, and Dem Mayor Eric Adams’ administration on the bus border. – cruises
City Hall Immigration Chief Manuel Castro said Sunday that the latest “bus full of asylum seekers coming from Texas” was part of a shameful “political ruse.”
“We have serious problems with the way Governor Abbott is treating asylum seekers, especially because it’s supposed to be a voluntary bus ride, and it doesn’t seem to be,” Castro told reporters at Manhattan facilities.
The commissioner was apparently referring to reports of sick and malnourished migrants, as well as those who were forced to come straight to New York City without stopping despite asking to get off the bus in Tennessee.
Another busload of cross-border migrants from Texas arrived in the Big Apple on Sunday morning.GNMiller/NYPost
“We are questioning what Governor Abbott is doing. This is a political ploy,” Castro said.
“We will talk to the individuals, we will find out more,” he said. “On previous buses, people were sick, they were hungry, they had been through a lot. … There have been a lot of problems on the way here. As you may have heard, a person, or many people, wanted to get off earlier, but the bus [driver] he refused.”
The influx of migrants (many of whom are reportedly seeking political asylum in the United States) in the five boroughs has left city officials scrambling to provide shelter to homeless newcomers, which is required by law.
But former New York Gov. David Paterson, a Democrat, said he is impressed by Abbott’s political maneuvering, saying he put Adams in a bind.
“Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has come up with … one of the most brilliant political strategies I’ve heard in a long time,” Paterson said during an appearance on WABC 770’s “Cats Roundtable” that aired Sunday.
Many of the migrants will eventually make their way to final destinations in New Jersey, North Carolina, Chicago and Kentucky, with volunteers helping them get there.GNMiller/NYPost
“I’m a Democrat. And there’s a lot I don’t like about what he’s doing. However, sometimes you have to tip the cap to your opponent.
“It’s really paid dividends for him politically,” Paterson said of Abbott. “Also, it has put the mayor of New York, Eric Adams, in a position where he cannot say that he will not accept immigrants.
“That would go against what most Democrats’ policy on immigration has been in the first place. And if [Adams] sends immigrants back to Texas, he … goes against his own attempt to get the federal government to help pay for them being here.”
A representative of the City Council said that the migrants transported on Sunday are originally from Venezuela and Colombia. The city joined the volunteers in providing them with food, water and clothing, as well as legal and medical assistance, the representative said.
The influx of migrants to the five boroughs has left city officials scrambling to provide shelter for the homeless newcomers.GNMiller/NYPost
Many of the migrants will eventually make their way to final destinations in New Jersey, North Carolina, Chicago and Kentucky, with volunteers helping them get there, the representative said.
Abbott’s press office did not respond to a request for comment.
Paterson said that while the situation puts Adams in a bind, he doesn’t think it has hurt him politically.
“I don’t think Adams is prejudiced in this process,” the former governor told host John Catsimatidis. “But I think nationally, it’s an incredible way to focus people on the whole immigration process.”