Mayor Says Edison Lacks Resources To Help Busloads Of Migrants

EDISON, NJ — Busloads of migrants recently arrived at several New Jersey train stations and bus stops, including Edison.

According to Edison Mayor Sam Joshi, two migrant buses made a stop in Edison, but they were asked to leave.

Several buses of migrants stopped in New Jersey over the past few days, in a bid to sidestep New York City’s recent order to limit arrivals.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams issued an executive order last week to limit when and how charter bus companies can drop off busloads of migrants.

The order requires a 32-hour notice and a five-day-a-week schedule. But rather than comply the buses from Texas started dropping off migrants in New Jersey communities.

Around 10 buses from Texas and one from Louisiana arrived at various transit points in New Jersey including Edison, Secaucus, Trenton and Fanwood.

Since Saturday, close to 400 migrants have arrived at these locations, officials said.

Mayor Joshi told Patch that on the first day, Dec. 30, 2023, the administration had no idea of the migrant buses at the Edison train station and they got the information from other sources.

The migrants had arrived on chartered buses and then made their way to New York City via NJ Transit.

On the second day, Edison Police encountered another bus and informed the migrants that Edison train station was not a 24-hour stop.

“The migrants then left on the same bus,” Joshi said, adding he has no clue if they journeyed forward to New York or back to the U.S.-Mexico border.

Speaking on Edison’s position on the migrant buses coming to NJ, Joshi said, “Edison does not have the financial or social resources to house immigrants in hotels or provide other accommodations. As a son of immigrants, I support legal migration and Edison is home to one of NJ’s largest immigrant populations and we are proud of it.”

Joshi said that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan has put undue stress on Mayors from small towns across the country.

The Mayor said he has instructed the police department to charter a bus to transport the migrants back to the U.S.-Mexico border.

“I want to be very clear- if any bus, train or plane of illegal migrants come to Edison, I have instructed our law enforcement and emergency management departments to charter a bus to transport the illegal migrants right back to the southern Texas/Mexican border,” Joshi said in a Facebook statement.

“Over the years I have expressed my disagreement with the concept of “sanctuary” cities and states and I won't allow Edison to be subjected to its consequences. Our border policies need to be strengthened to stop illegal migrants from entering our country. Edison is a municipality with a significant immigrant population and I will continue to support only legal immigration.”

Joshi told Patch that his office is currently prepared to handle the situation and he plans to speak with Gov. Phil Murphy.

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