Abbott hits back at NYC mayor over 'baseless' suit against charter bus companies

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday excoriated New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams for suing 17 bus companies that have brought illegal aliens to the Big Apple.

Adams is seeking $708 million from the companies, insisting that defendants parties have violated a city executive order requiring that buses carrying ten or more persons that might seek emergency assistance notify New York City authorities in advance of the time and place of arrival. The move comes as Abbott continues his policy of bussing illegals to sanctuary cities in a bid to highlight the situation at the southern border. The suit blamed Abbott for at least 33,600 individuals who have arrived there.

"This lawsuit is baseless and deserves to be sanctioned," Abbott said in a statement. "It's clear that Mayor Adams knows nothing about the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, or about the constitutional right to travel that has been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court."

"Every migrant bused or flown to New York City did so voluntarily, after having been authorized by the Biden Administration to remain in the United States," he continued. "As such, they have constitutional authority to travel across the country that Mayor Adams is interfering with. If the Mayor persists in this lawsuit, he may be held legally accountable for his violations."

Adams's popularity has taken a nosedive amid the influx of new arrivals to the city, which has exceeded 110,000 in the past year alone. A December Quinnipiac University survey saw him earn 28% approval from NYC voters, compared to 58% who disapproved of his performance.

In November, the mayor announced cuts to city services and police, for which he blamed the new arrivals. That move prompted lawsuits from the city's largest public sector union and the United Federation of Teachers.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.