The New York City executive order requires notification 32 hours in advance and dropping off passengers only on weekdays.
Busloads of illegal immigrants en route for New York City are being dropped off at various train stations in New Jersey, state and local officials said, an apparent attempt to exploit a “loophole” in New York City’s latest order restricting their arrival.
According to a notice posted on Dec. 31 on the official X account for Jersey City, some 10 buses that departed from Texas and Louisiana have arrived at train stations in several New Jersey towns including Secaucus, Fanwood, Edison, and Trenton over the weekend.
“[Approximately] 397 migrants have arrived at these locations since Dec. 30,” the city said.
In Secaucus, a transportation hub for rail access between New Jersey and Manhattan, the police department and town officials confirmed the arrival of at least four migrant buses at the train station at Secaucus Junction. The first bus arrived on the morning of Dec. 30.
“From what we understand, after being dropped at the train station the migrants then took trains to New York City,” Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli said on Dec. 31.
“It seems quite clear the bus operators are finding a way to thwart the requirements of the Executive Order by dropping migrants at the train station in Secaucus and having them continue to their final destination,” Mr. Gonnelli added, referring to the order issued this past week by New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
As part of the effort to control the flow of migrant charter buses sent by southern border states to New York, the Dec. 22 order mandates that such buses can drop off their passengers only between 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. on weekdays.
In addition, bus companies must notify the city’s emergency management office 32 hours in advance of the buses’ arrival.
Under the new rule, bus companies and operators that fail to comply would face a class B misdemeanor charge, with penalties including three months’ imprisonment and up to a $500 fine for individuals and $2,000 for corporations.
By Bill Pan
