New York Starts Handing Out Prepaid Debit Cards to Illegal Immigrants
New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams defended using the pay as you go playing cards throughout an in-person media availability in Albany on March 26.
New York Metropolis officers on Monday began handing out pre-paid debit playing cards to unlawful immigrants as a part of a $53 million pilot program that has drawn criticism over whether or not the prospect of “free cash” is incentivizing extra illegal border crossings.
Metropolis Corridor mentioned that the pre-paid playing cards can solely be used at bodegas, grocery shops, supermarkets, and comfort shops and recipients must signal a pledge promising to make use of the playing cards solely to purchase meals and child provides.
Combined Messages?
New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams defended using the pay as you go playing cards throughout an in-person media availability in Albany on March 26.
Mr. Adams was requested by a reporter whether or not the pay as you go playing cards present potential migrants an interesting cause to return to the USA and so whether or not this system sends a combined message, given the mayor’s said makes an attempt to dissuade unlawful immigrants from coming to New York Metropolis.
“No, it sends a combined message when it’s distorted,” the mayor replied. He mentioned he gave his group a transparent directive to carry down prices associated to the supply of companies to unlawful immigrants within the Large Apple by 30 %—and that the playing cards are a part of that initiative.
Mr. Adams known as the playing cards a “cost-effective” win-win that saves taxpayers over $600,000 monthly, or $7.2 million per yr.
“We’re going to get rid of meals waste and we’re going to place a refund into the native economic system,” he mentioned.
Mr. Adams argued that criticism isn’t a ok cause to not press forward with this system.
“If we didn’t do issues as a result of poeple are going to critique us, we wouldn’t have gotten hundreds of individuals off our streets which can be homeless, we’d not have eliminated our encampments, we’d not have taken hundreds of weapons off the road,” he mentioned. “We’ve acquired to do it proper.”
He was then requested a follow-up query about the issue of phrase getting again to the border or additional south that mainly “free cash” is being made obtainable to households and due to this fact incentivizing extra unlawful immigration.
Mr. Adams mentioned it’s unavoidable that info will get again to family and friends in South American nations that even rudimentary situations in New York shelters are higher than the dire situations some individuals are fleeing.
“That’s going to return,” he mentioned, including that, “we’ve got to search out the suitable mixture—supply of companies, with the identical degree of dignity, and do it in a approach that’s price efficient.”
“And I’m not listening to from my colleagues down in Ecuador or Columbia or Mexico that everyone is working to New York as a result of they’re going to get a meals card,” he added. “I’m not listening to that.”
Febien Levy, the deputy mayor for communications at Mr. Adams’ workplace, added that there’s an effort underway to tell folks on the border by handing out flyers that there aren’t any limitless free companies for folks as soon as they cross into the USA.
“There’s no free cash. These are usually not ATM playing cards, you’ll be able to’t take money out. If anybody has that concept, they’re flawed,” Mr. Levy mentioned. “That is for meals and child provides solely.”
New York Metropolis Councilman Joe Borelli criticized this system, telling Fox 5 NY when this system was first introduced that offering unlawful immigrants with companies on the taxpayer dime sends the flawed message.
Mr. Adams has pushed again on this message, arguing that this system would save New York round $7 million per yr in comparison with New York officers bodily handing out meals to unlawful immigrants, the place logistics and waste would add to the fee.
![New York Mayor Eric Adams speaks during his weekly press conference at New York City Hall on Nov. 14, 2023. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)](https://www.theepochtimes.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F11%2F17%2Fid5531385-GettyImages-1782602753-1200x800.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
The mayor insisted on the briefing that the help is justified to alleviate a “humanitarian disaster” that has gripped town as round 180,000 asylum-seekers have come since final spring.