NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy sent a letter to several charter bus companies that are transporting migrants from border states to the Garden State, demanding more information for the health and safety of those being transported.
The information requested by the state includes advanced knowledge of how many people are aboard each bus — including the number of single adults, families, children and chaperones — the start point, time and destination; and a description of the bus with a license plate number.
According to Murphy’s office, over 1,800 migrants have arrived on buses in New Jersey since Dec. 31, 2023. A majority immediately got on trains to New York City, where an executive order from Mayor Eric Adams limits migrant bus drop-offs in the city to certain times and locations.
In the letter, Murphy directed ire at Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who began busing migrants to northern metros in April 2022 as part of the state’s Operation Lone Star — aimed at combating the rise in illegal immigration across the southern U.S. border. Many other states along the southern border have also implemented their own migrant transport programs.
“As we continue to see more migrants arrive to our state at the hands of the Governor of Texas, who is reportedly funding the passengers’ transportation with taxpayer funds, notice to New Jersey officials in advance of these individuals’ anticipated arrival is critical to ensuring the health and safety of passengers once they arrive in New Jersey,” said Murphy.
Since the start of Operation Lone Star, Texas has bused some 80,000 migrants from the border to cities like New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Denver, and Los Angeles. His administration expanded the program at the end of last year to begin flying migrants to those same destinations.