The Democratic Mayor of Edison, New Jersey, has taken a stand against the recent arrival of migrants in his city and ordered law enforcement to arrange transportation back to the U.S.-Mexico border. This decision comes in response to reports that at least 13 buses originating from Texas and Louisiana have transported migrants to New Jersey, where they have then utilized buses and trains to reach New York. These buses have been redirected to New Jersey due to New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ executive order, which restricts the timing of bus arrivals at the Port Authority.
Edison, Secaucus, Fanwood, and Trenton have all witnessed the arrival of these buses carrying migrants. Approximately 450 migrants have been dropped off in the region recently.
Mayor Sam Joshi of Edison has emphasized his commitment to addressing the situation locally rather than passing it on to neighboring areas. He explained his decision, stating, “The solution for me as the mayor of Edison is not to pawn it off to another mayor.”
Joshi expressed concerns about the migrants’ arrival, particularly the inability to identify the 40 individuals who arrived in Edison. He highlighted the potential security and health risks associated with this lack of information, asserting, “That’s a major security risk. It’s a health risk. And we’re just not going to tolerate that.”
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, also a Democrat, recognized the need to provide assistance to desperate individuals seeking help. He commented, “At the end of the day, they’re desperate people who need help, and we want to do the right thing and be helpful.”
This situation arises as a result of a directive from Republican Governor Greg Abbott of Texas, which, since 2022, has led to the relocation of over 80,000 migrants to cities under Democratic leadership that have declared themselves sanctuaries for undocumented immigrants. These cities include New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., among others. Other states, such as Louisiana and Florida, have implemented similar measures.
Mayor Reed Gusciora of Trenton, also a Democrat, acknowledged that most migrants arriving in his city subsequently moved on to New York. However, he mentioned that 10 individuals have chosen to remain with family in the area. Gusciora explained, “We empathize when someone is trying to seek asylum or when someone is trying to take them in. But we don’t have the capacity to take them in.”
The situation surrounding the relocation of migrants continues to raise complex challenges for local authorities and communities.
