New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) has defended the city’s practice of busing migrants out of the city, arguing that it differs from Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s (R) approach of busing migrants to the city. Adams claims that New York City is addressing a problem created by Governor Abbott and providing migrants with transportation to their desired destinations.
During a recent broadcast of CNN’s “Situation Room,” Mayor Adams responded to questions about the differences between the two approaches. Host Wolf Blitzer brought up the accusations of hypocrisy, with Governor Abbott’s spokesperson claiming that New York City had also been busing migrants northward away from the city.
In response, Mayor Adams asserted that such claims were “totally inaccurate” and emphasized that New York City’s actions were aimed at resolving the challenges caused by Governor Abbott’s policies. According to Adams, many migrants who arrived in New York City had intended to reach other municipalities, but they had no other viable options due to Governor Abbott’s targeting of cities like Chicago, Denver, and New York.
Mayor Adams explained that Governor Abbott had explicitly stated his intention to focus on cities and had even sent a plane full of migrants to Philadelphia on the day of the city’s mayoral inauguration. Adams stressed the difference between the two approaches, noting that New York City identifies migrants’ desired destinations and provides them with new tickets to reach locations where they have family, friends, or support systems.
Adams defended New York City’s actions as a response to the challenges created by Governor Abbott’s policies. He emphasized that the city’s efforts were focused on helping migrants reach their preferred destinations and ensuring they had the necessary support upon arrival.
