A judge has ruled that New York City can’t use a two-century-old “anti-pauper” law to block the state of Texas from offering migrants free bus rides to the city.

Summary

A New York judge dismissed Mayor Eric Adams’ lawsuit aimed at blocking Texas from sending migrants to NYC via charter buses, ruling that an 1817 anti-pauper law invoked by Adams was unconstitutional.

The court affirmed migrants’ right to interstate travel, rejecting efforts to screen passengers based on economic status.

Texas began bussing migrants to cities like NYC in 2022, escalating tensions over federal immigration policy.

Although NYC claimed the lawsuit reduced bus arrivals, officials are exploring further legal actions to address the financial strain on city resources.