Mayor Adams’s Attempt to Bar Immigrants from Traveling to NYC Ruled Unconstitutional 

NEW YORK, NY – This week, a New York State Supreme Court dismissed the Adams administration’s lawsuit against Texas-based bus companies to prevent them from transporting newly-arrived migrants and asylum seekers to New York City.

In the decision, the Court agreed with the New York Civil Liberties Union’s amicus curiae argument that the Adams administration’s reliance on an antiquated state law as a way to stop Texas-based bus companies from transporting newly arrived immigrants to New York City was unconstitutional.

In response, the NYCLU issued the following statement, attributable to Senior Staff Attorney Beth Haroules:

“With this decision, the Court rightly rejected Mayor Eric Adams’ cruel and morally repugnant attempts to bar immigrants from traveling to and making a home in New York City.”

“The administration’s argument rested on an antiquated, obsolete, and immoral law passed in 1817 which tried to ban vulnerable people from coming to New York. Our city has been a beacon of refuge and opportunity for generations — and we cannot and will not shirk from that responsibility.”

“Everyone, regardless of their citizenship status or income, has the right to freely travel and reside anywhere within the United States. This is constitutionally guaranteed and a fundamental pillar of American democracy.”

“Mayor Adams is not above the law and cannot keep wrongly exploiting the plight of newly arrived immigrants to bolster his own political agenda.”

“Vulnerable people are not pawns. We’re gratified that the Court agreed and threw out this ridiculous case.”

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