In a new development, a Texas bus company has taken legal action by filing a federal lawsuit against the city of Chicago. The lawsuit claims that the efforts made by sanctuary cities to prevent the buses from dropping off migrants are unconstitutional.
Sanctuary cities, including Chicago and New York, have previously filed lawsuits against Texas bus companies. Now, one particular company is striking back, targeting the city of Chicago. The company alleges that its buses have been impounded for violating ordinance guidelines, which they argue is discriminatory and unconstitutional.
According to the ordinance in question, unscheduled intercity buses are prohibited from loading or unloading passengers in the city of Chicago between certain hours on weekdays, and throughout weekends and designated city holidays. Additionally, these companies are required to provide advance notice of their arrival.
Wayne Transportation, the company involved in the lawsuit, contends that the ordinance violates the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution. They argue that it specifically targets out-of-state bus companies, infringing upon their ability to conduct business with the state of Texas. Furthermore, Wayne Transportation's lawyers claim that the ordinance discriminates against passengers based on their migrant status and national origin, which they believe violates the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause.
Given that immigration is a federal issue, Wayne Transportation argues that the ordinance also violates the Supremacy Clause. They maintain that the city of Chicago's enforcement of this ordinance through the filing of 95 lawsuits against bus companies further exacerbates its unconstitutionality.
Notably, New York has filed 17 lawsuits against bus companies, and Chicago has filed nearly 100, indicating a growing tension between these sanctuary cities and Texas bus operators. It is worth highlighting that since the summer of 2022, approximately 600 buses have been sent by Governor Abbott to the city of Chicago, with a little over 200 operating in the suburbs of Chicagoland.
The outcome of this federal lawsuit and the subsequent legal battles between the cities and Texas bus companies will be closely watched. It remains to be seen how the courts will interpret and rule on the constitutionality of the ordinance, and whether any implications will arise regarding immigration and interstate commerce policies.
