Buses start dropping off asylum seekers in New Jersey, as Secaucus mayor cites "loophole" in New York City's rules
SECAUCUS, N.J. -- The mayor of Secaucus is responding after four buses were seen dropping off asylum seekers at the Secaucus Junction train station.
Mayor Michael Gonnelli said the buses arrived on Dec. 30.
The asylum seekers then took trains into New York City, where Mayor Eric Adams recently issued an executive order requiring bus companies to notify NYC Emergency Management at least 32 hours before arriving or face fines. The order also says buses carrying asylum seekers can only arrive between 8:30 a.m. and noon on weekdays.
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In a statement, Gonnelli said in part:
"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. Perhaps the requirements Mayor Adams put in place are too stringent and are resulting in unexpected consequences as it seems the bus operators have figured out a loophole in the system in order to ensure the migrants reach their final destination, which is New York City. Based on reports from the State Police this is now happening at train stations throughout the state.
"I have been advised the State of New Jersey has a plan in place and we will be working closely with the Governor's office, all law enforcement agencies, and the County to monitor this situation. At this point in time it seems train tickets are being secured for the migrants and they have been making their way to their final destination. We will continue to monitor this situation closely."
Riders in Secaucus have their own opinions on what many say has become a crisis in Manhattan.
"I think that the country should have compassion for these people who really do just want their best chance at life," Upper Saddle River resident Kiley Rotella said. "In an ideal world, everybody could do it legally, and I think we should definitely try and make that process a little easier."
"I personally am an immigrant myself. I'm from Turkey, but my family, we did it the correct way, we got the visa," Sparta resident Bo Samioglu said.
"The governor of Texas has a legitimate gripe. It's very difficult to keep your citizens safe when there's a border that's being inundated by a lot of immigrants. I don't know if shipping it to New York is the best thing," Orange County resident David Cadogan said.
A source says many of the asylum seekers who came to the Secaucus train station came with chaperones who helped them get on trains to New York City.
Gov. Phil Murphy's office says the administration has been tracking recent arrivals at a handful of New Jersey Transit stations.
A spokesperson for the governor says:
"New Jersey is primarily being used as a transit point for these families - all or nearly all of them continued with their travels en route to their final destination of New York City. We are closely coordinating with our federal and local partners on this matter, including our colleagues across the Hudson."
New Jersey Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew says he's calling on Murphy to rescind the state's sanctuary state status.
"It is a real concern because some of them obviously are being moved on into New York City and Manhattan, but others may be well staying here," he said. "New Jersey's taxes and New Jersey's challenges are already enough. We don't need more."
He blames the Biden administration for not securing the border.
"People don't understand what Texas is going through. Governor Abbott is just trying to protect his people, protect his state. They are being inundated," Van Drew said.
But a spokesperson for New York City Hall says Texas' governor is using asylum seekers as political pawns, "dropping families off in surrounding cities and states in the cold, dark of night with tickets to travel to New York City," and it's why New York City issued the executive order and is coordinating with surrounding cities to protect asylum seekers.