Migrant bus arrives in New York City, greeted with handshakes, blankets

close

Video

Migrants arrive to New York City in a bus from Texas

New York City officials greet a bus full of migrants from Texas near Port Authority.

New York City officials greeted migrants exiting a bus in downtown Manhattan on Sunday, one of many sent from Texas.

The officials shook hands with each of the migrants before giving them blankets and leading them away from Port Authority in downtown. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has sent more than a dozen busses to Washington, D.C., and New York City in a bid to make the powerful cities feel the effects of the ongoing border crisis.

Sunday's bus of at least 44 migrants was sent by the mayor of El Paso, Oscar Leeser.

New York officials have condemned the buses, with Mayor Eric Adams' administration calling it "shameful" last week.

NYC MAYOR ADAMS DUBS ABBOTT AN ‘ANTI-AMERICAN GOVERNOR’ AS MIGRANT SPAT ESCALATES

New York City Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs Manuel Castro welcomed more than 80 migrants Tuesday, and accused Texas Gov. Greg Abbott of stoking "anti-immigrant and anti-Latino hatred" by sending buses from the southern border. (Fox News Channel)

TEXAS SENDS BUSES OF MIGRANTS TO CHICAGO FOR FIRST TIME, DROPPED OFF AT TRAIN STATION

Manuel Castro, commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, was there to great migrants from four buses that arrived last week.

"As in previous days, our priority is to make sure that the asylum seekers are well. We have food water medical services inside the port authority," Castro told reporters.

"He’s weaponizing asylum seekers," Castro added of Abbott. "It is shameful, and it is our moral obligation to condemn the use of human beings for political purposes."

Adams himself has also blasted Abbott for the bussing program, which the Texas governor argues is necessary due to overflow at border towns.

"I already called all my friends in Texas and told them how to cast their votes," Adams said during a press conference last week. "And I am deeply contemplating taking a busload of New Yorkers to go to Texas and do some good old-fashioned door knocking because we have to, for the good of America, we have to get him out of office."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Abbott argues that NYC, a proud sanctuary city, should be capable of housing the border-crossers.

"In addition to Washington, D.C., New York City is the ideal destination for these migrants, who can receive the abundance of city services and housing that Mayor Eric Adams has boasted about within the sanctuary city," Abbott said in August.

This is a developing story. Check back soon for updates.