New York City sues Texas bus companies for $708 million, citing costs of bused migrants

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a lawsuit Thursday against Texas charter bus companies for $708 million to cover the costs of caring for migrants transported to the city.

Adams said New York City is committed to managing the humanitarian crisis but cannot "bear the costs of reckless political ploys from the state of Texas alone."

"Today, our administration filed the lawsuit against 17 companies that have taken part in Texas Governor Greg Abbott's scheme to transport tens of thousands of migrants to New York City in an attempt to overwhelm our social services system," he said in a video on X.

Adams said those companies have violated state law by not paying the cost of caring for the migrants.

"And that's why we're suing to recoup approximately $700 million already spent to care for migrants bused here in the last two years by the state of Texas," he added.

He called Abbott's busing migrants to the city "chaotic and inhumane," accusing the governor of putting politics above people.

"Today's lawsuit should serve as a warning to all those who break the law in this way," he added.

Dozens of charter busses have been arriving in New York City each week, many at odd hours of the night and on weekends and in varying locations across the US' most populous city.

To circumvent the restrictions, some companies have begun dropping migrants off in neighboring New Jersey, where they have reportedly been taking trains to get to New York City.