In a bid to address the influx of asylum seekers arriving in New York City, Mayor Eric Adams is considering expanding his executive order to include trains and planes. This move comes as the city attempts to curb the flow of migrants coming in on New Jersey transit trains. Mayor Adams was set to meet with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy to discuss this new development, which involves busloads of migrants evading the crackdown by heading to New Jersey and then taking trains into Manhattan.

Mayor Adams expressed his frustration with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who has been transporting migrants who cross the southern border illegally to progressive sanctuary cities. Adams stated, "We're dealing with a person who just wants to disrupt," and emphasized the need to send a clear message to bus operators that they should not participate in Abbott's actions. Adams also stated that the city would use all available means to prevent planes from bringing in migrants.

Last week, Mayor Adams issued an executive order requiring charter bus companies to provide a 32-hour notice before dropping off migrants in the city. The order also limited the drop-offs to one location on West 41st Street, between 8:30 a.m. and noon. This was part of Adams' ongoing efforts to gain control over the crisis, which has seen over 160,000 migrants arriving in New York City since the spring of 2022, straining the city's shelter system.

However, the charter buses quickly found a way around the order. Migrants reported being told that their stop in New Jersey was the last one before being guided onto Manhattan-bound trains. Some migrants have also been flying into JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark airports and taking Uber rides into Manhattan, bypassing Adams' order.

The situation has not only sparked backlash within New York City but also in quiet suburban towns across the Hudson River. Edison Mayor San Joshi announced on Facebook that any bus, train, or plane carrying illegal migrants to Edison would be immediately sent back to the southern Texas/Mexican border. Joshi emphasized the need to strengthen border policies to prevent illegal migrants from entering the country.

While Mayor Adams seeks to address the crisis by expanding his executive order, he is also calling for the dismantling of the "right to shelter" requirement. This legal requirement, dating back to the 1980s, obligates the city to provide housing to anyone who requests it. Adams argues that this rule should not apply under the current extraordinary circumstances of the migrant crisis.

The city has been engaged in a legal battle to challenge the "right to shelter" requirement, arguing that it was not intended to house the thousands of asylum seekers who have arrived in New York City since the start of the crisis. The specific relief sought by the city has not been disclosed, as most of the arguments have taken place in closed-door meetings with the judge. The Legal Aid Society, which supports migrants' rights, hopes that a middle ground can be reached.

Local lawmakers have raised concerns that the "right to shelter" rule makes New York City more appealing than other destinations in the US for migrants after crossing the border. A family of three recently arrived at the Roosevelt Hotel, confirming these suspicions. Marien Villegas, a mother from Boston, stated that they were sent to NYC via train in search of better housing. However, they were turned away from the hotel and planned to head south with few provisions to face the northeast winter.

Currently, the city is responsible for over 68,000 asylum seekers across makeshift shelters. The majority of these migrants have been brought to the city by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Abbott claims that Texas has transported over 95,000 migrants to sanctuary cities.

Mayor Adams' comments regarding the "right to shelter" requirement came after a pre-taped interview on Fox5's Good Day. He clarified that the city cannot legally prevent someone from entering or turn them over to ICE. Governor Kathy Hochul supported Adams' efforts to address the crisis, stating that the city cannot house the entire world.

While the governor initially pushed back on the mayor's attempt to modify the "right to shelter" rule, she later sided with Adams in court. City Councilmember Bob Holden welcomed the governor's support but stressed the need for the federal government to address the border crisis and for the city and state to hold the Biden Administration accountable.