Buses with immigrants stopping at Secaucus to work around NYC order

By: Katie Sobko
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... Immigrants who arrive by bus at Secacus Junction this weekend [12/30-31/2023] transferred to trains to New York City in an effort tow work around a recent executive order signed by New York Mayor Eric Adams.
..... The order signed by Adams is meant to regulate migrant arrivals by bus. It requires bus operators to advise the commissioner of emergency management at least 32 hours before arriving and limits drop-off times to weekdays only between the hours of 8:30 AM and noon.
..... At least four buses transporting migrants to New York arrive at the train station at Secaucus Junction, a statement issued Sunday [12/31/2023] by Secacus Mayor Michael Gonnelii confirmed. Secacus police and town officials were told about the buses by Hudson county officials, the statement said.
..... "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," Gonnelli said in a statement.
..... "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," the statement said. "Based on reports from the State Police this is now happening at train stations throughout the state."
..... Gonnelli noted that he was coordinating with Governor Phil Murphy's office, and that train tickets are being secured for the migrants, who have been making their way to their destinations.
.... Tyler Jones, a spokesperson for Murphy's office, said the administration has "tracked the recent arrival of a handful buses of migrant families at various NJ Transit train stations."
..... "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," Jones said, noting that the state is working with federal and local partners on the matter, including "our colleagues across the Hudson."
..... According to posts on social media from the account associated with Jersey City, 10 buses from Texas and one form Louisiana have arrived at train stations throughout the state, including in Secacus, Fanwood, Edison and Trenton. There were an estimated 397 migrants.

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