SECAUCUS, NJ — New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ recent executive order, aiming to regulate the arrival times of buses carrying migrants into the city, is reportedly influencing transit patterns in neighboring New Jersey. Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli stated that bus operators appear to be circumventing the order by dropping migrants at the Secaucus Junction train station.
The executive order, issued by Mayor Adams, specifies that buses transporting migrants to New York City are only permitted to arrive between 8:30 a.m. and noon, Monday through Friday. This measure was introduced following an incident where 14 buses from Texas arrived in New York City overnight. The intent, according to city officials, is not to prevent migrants from reaching New York but to ensure better coordination and preparedness.
In response, bus operators seem to be adapting by utilizing New Jersey transit stations as drop-off points. Commuters note that from Secaucus, it is a brief train ride to New York’s Penn Station. This workaround allows migrants to reach New York City without directly contravening the terms of the executive order.
As a result of this shift, New Jersey transit stations, including those in Secaucus, Fanwood, Edison, and Trenton, have become interim stops for migrants en route to New York. Over 160,000 migrants have arrived in New York City since the previous spring, intensifying the need for effective management of migrant arrivals.
The executive order’s impact extends beyond logistical adjustments. Humanitarian groups express concerns over potential confusion among migrants and asylum seekers, many of whom are motivated by the prospect of realizing the American dream in New York City. The situation underscores the complex dynamics of migrant transit and the challenges faced by local governments in managing such movements.