FOLLOW US

The battle over migrant transportation from Texas to New York has taken a dramatic legal turn, as Roadrunner Charters Inc. fires back at New York City’s $708 million lawsuit, calling it an unconstitutional political stunt.

In a complaint filed Wednesday in the Southern District of New York, Roadrunner accused the city of attempting to deflect blame from federal immigration failures by targeting private bus companies. The company argues that NYC’s legal attack is “unprecedented and frivolous”, violating its constitutional and federal motor carrier rights.

NYC’s Allegations and Roadrunner’s Defense

New York City’s Department of Social Services (DSS) initially filed its complaint in January 2024, seeking damages from Roadrunner and 16 other charter bus companies. The agency alleges that these firms violated New York social services law by transporting migrants at the behest of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who in April 2022 ordered migrant relocations to so-called sanctuary cities.

The DSS contends that under state law, anyone knowingly bringing a “needy person” into New York for public assistance must either remove them or cover their costs. Since over 33,600 migrants were dropped off in New York City, the 17 defendant bus companies should reimburse the city’s $708 million in emergency services, the lawsuit claims.

Roadrunner, however, insists that it was merely fulfilling a transportation contract with Texas authorities and had no role in immigration policy decisions. The company argues that NYC’s legal threats forced it to halt its services, resulting in lost revenue and damages.

The Legal Showdown

NYC’s aggressive stance initially prompted Roadrunner to suspend its migrant transportation services in March 2024 while the lawsuit played out. However, a New York Supreme Court ruling in July dealt a blow to the city’s case.

Justice Mary V. Rosado rejected NYC’s request for a preliminary injunction, citing a 1941 U.S. Supreme Court precedent that struck down a nearly identical state law. By November 2024, the case was dismissed entirely—a major victory for the bus companies.

Roadrunner’s Next Move

Following the dismissal, Roadrunner now seeks compensation for its financial losses. Attorney Robert Hantman of Hantman & Associates, representing Roadrunner, told Law360 on Thursday that the lawsuit was a symbolic gesture rather than a legitimate legal claim.

“Because they were sued and threatened, they stopped busing people and therefore lost money. So, when the dust settles, we expect them to be reimbursed for the money they lost because of a frivolous lawsuit,” Hantman said, emphasizing that NYC “must have known at the inception” that its claims were unconstitutional.

New York City has yet to comment on the case’s dismissal.