Immigrant advocates alarmed at comments directed at migrants dropped off in New Jersey

As parts of New Jersey have become drop-off locations for migrants as they are bused from Texas to New York City, immigrant advocates are expressing dismay at how the asylum seekers are being treated.

With officials in places from Trenton to Edison to Secaucus saying they’re not equipped or interested in welcoming the migrants — bused from the southern border by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to places controlled by Democrats — New Jersey has “pass-the-buck energy” when it comes to people who have crossed the border looking for a better life, one advocate said.

And if Abbott continues his push to bus migrants from his state to our region, New Jersey is not prepared if larger numbers of migrants decide to stay here instead of continuing their trek to Manhattan, the advocates said. 

“These are real people passing through, and there needs to be more conversation about how welcoming we are and how ready we are to receive them and provide resources to these people,” said Nedia Morsey of Make the Road New Jersey, an immigrant advocacy group based in Elizabeth.

Gov. Phil Murphy told reporters Wednesday there is a plan in place — for migrants to keep heading to New York, which “has the federal resources, and that’s been deemed to be a location and destination.”

“I’m not supporting the current immigration reality in America right now, and I’m certainly not supporting stunts from governors like Greg Abbott,” he said. “But it’s clear where the resources are right now.”

The current migrant controversy comes four months after a bipartisan outcry in New Jersey over an apparent plan by the Biden administration to relocate some of the migrants to Atlantic City’s airport, a plan that never came to fruition.

Murphy, who opposed that plan, said about 20 buses with just under 1,000 asylum seekers arrived at different train stations in New Jersey earlier this week. Most of those people proceeded to New York City, other than a few dozen who stayed with family in the state, he said.

The buses appear to be attempting to circumvent new rules in New York City that would require them to give city officials prior notice of their arrival.

The buses arrived in Fanwood, Jersey City, Edison, Secaucus, and Trenton, prompting a range of comments from their mayors. Some took shots at Abbott’s tactics, others said they would not be able to house any migrants who decided to stay in New Jersey, while at least one promised to send any asylum seekers back across the border.

Those comments, from Edison Mayor Sam Joshi, stunned New Jersey immigrant advocates. Joshi, a Democrat, told Good Day New York he has a charter bus on standby that would take migrants “straight back to the other side of the border” if they stayed in Edison, one of the largest towns in the state and one where 45% of the population is foreign-born. Joshi is also the son of immigrants.

“I want to make it clear that our position here in Edison Township is that they’re not welcome here, they are illegal, and they belong on the other side of the border,” Joshi later told News 12.

Advocates for immigrants called Joshi’s words “hurtful,” “shocking,” “nefarious,” and “disturbing.”

“That’s extremely vitriolic language,” said Amy Torres, executive director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. “I don’t know what it must feel like for the people of Edison to see the leader of your city say something like that.”

Morsey echoed those concerns, adding she was deeply disturbed by the lack of regard for people seeking freedom and fleeing violence. They both called on Joshi to apologize to the Latino and immigrant communities.

“He’s condoning very anti-immigrant, xenophobic rhetoric. He’s really done a disservice to all immigrants in Edison and across the state,” Morsey said.

Joshi did not respond to multiple requests seeking comment.

Dolly Hernandez is the director of CASA Freehold, an organization that connects immigrants with social services. She said asylum seekers come to New Jersey weekly — they just don’t usually come by busloads and garner media attention. Her organization has been able to give resources to people to adapt to their new environment, and she suggested other cities do the same.

“Be more open. Before you react the same way the Edison mayor did, maybe find out more about them. Don’t just come out and say, ‘No, we don’t want them.’ That’s not fair,” Hernandez said.

Morsey wants to see states find a dignified solution to receive asylum seekers rather than using them as political pawns. New Jersey should have its own plan to help migrants instead of continuing its “pass-the-buck energy,” she added. Expanding affordable housing and improving access to shelters are basic steps to helping not just asylum seekers, but all New Jersey residents, advocates said.

“These are problems that have been problems from day one that they’ve been in office, and they’ve refused to fix it. Now the magnifying glass is on all of these various issues,” Torres said.

Abbott said his push to bus migrants out of Texas will continue — places like New York City have seen a “fraction” of what Texas border towns face daily, he said on social media Tuesday — and he put the blame on the Biden administration, a criticism echoed by New Jersey Republicans like state Sen. Mike Testa of Cumberland County.

“The insanity of far-left open border policies are draining our already strained resources and infrastructure. As elected officials, our highest responsibility is to ensure the safety of our schools, hospitals, and local communities. We must start putting New Jersey first and put an end to this insanity,” Testa said in a statement.