Greyhound tells US officials to stop dropping off released immigrants at bus stations

Greyhound has told U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials they can no longer drop off immigrants inside bus stations, with the company asking that those released from custody wait outside until tickets are purchased.

A Greyhound spokesperson confirmed the request to The Hill. The move was first reported by the Associated Press on Friday.

“The unexpected arrival of dozens of people, many with no travel arrangements, is a concern as we do not have the resources to house individuals for extended periods of time,” Greyhound spokesperson Crystal Booker told The Hill.

“Across locations, we have requested that ICE transport those without tickets to organizations that have the resources to feed and house them until it is confirmed they have a ticket or it has been confirmed someone is purchasing a ticket for them. Once they are prepared to travel, we transport them safely to their chosen destinations.”

{mosads}Bus stations near the U.S.-Mexico border have recently become convenient spots for immigration officials to drop off released migrant families as they wait to find out from a judge whether they can stay in the country or not. 

The practice has gone on for years, but Booker told the AP that Greyhound was faced with an “unprecedented increase of individuals” recently.

“Our priority is to safely and efficiently get customers to their destinations,” Booker said in a statement.

She added the newly implemented policy applies to any individual who does not have a ticket.

ICE said in a statement that the agency wanted to “mitigate strains placed on resources in the local community.” 

“The dynamics of operational realities are ever-changing and the agency makes adjustments as required to best serve the mission,” an ICE spokesperson told The Hill. “ICE wants to mitigate strains placed on resources in the local community as we continue to see high volumes of families crossing the border.”

ICE has few options when releasing migrants, often using activist organizations and nonprofits to house them, according to the AP.

Those who are released by ICE often have no where to go and have little money, so they end up dropped off at bus stations unable to purchase a ticket.

Updated on March 18 at 12:55 p.m.