New York – NYC Mayor Eric Adams is clarifying reports about how much migrants will receive on their NYC’s migrant prepaid credit card or “immediate response cards,” and how much it will cost the city. Earlier this month, the city announced a partnership with Mobility Capital Finance to launch a pilot program that will provide migrant families with a reloadable prepaid credit card to purchase food and supplies.
SNAP and WIC, federally funded health and nutrition programs, already use similar prepaid cards — but there is a lot of missing information about NYC migrant benefits.
The Post originally reported that the program could cost the city more than $53 million.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams joined FOX 5 NY live on the 5 O’Clock News Tuesday to clear up questions about the program.
“First, we want to be clear: each migrant will get about $13 a day, so it’s not automatically $1,000 as it has been reported,” Adams said
Amid a massive influx of migrants into the city, many have linked the program to providing foreigners with untraceable, unlimited, and unregulated accounts.
“Lunatic Democrats are handing out credit cards to foreigners while Americans are struggling,” reads one post on X, formerly Twitter.
What is NYC’s migrant prepaid credit card?
The program would replace the non-perishable food boxes provided to migrant families staying at hotels such as the Roosevelt.
Kayla Mamelak, a spokesperson for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, said the cards will be loaded with approximately $12.52 per person every day for 28 days.
“This will be one of our cost-saving measures. Adams told FOX 5 NY, “We’re going to save $600,000 per month, $7.2 million per year.”
New York City has set aside $53 million for the pilot program
New York City has set aside $53 million for the pilot program, which officials claim will save $600,000 per month and $7.2 million annually.
The program will begin with 500 migrant families with children who are already staying in short-term hotels.
The cards are only accepted at bodegas, grocery stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores.
Officials hope that using the cards at local retailers will boost the city’s economy.
City officials also stated that if the pilot program proves successful, they will consider expanding it to all migrant families staying in hotels.
Nonetheless, officials say the goal is to reduce the cost of the migrant crisis.
NYC estimates that the cost of caring for migrants will be $12 billion over the next three years
“We are clear. Adams warned, “If it’s abused, we’ll take away those cards.”
The migrant crisis remains a major concern. NYC estimates that the cost of caring for migrants will be $12 billion over the next three years.
“I think both houses need to look at real, true immigration reform. The Republicans have stymied immigration reform for years. While we deal with the mid and long-term plan, this needs immediate relief for all the cities that are involved,” Adams told FOX 5 New York.
Mayor Adams stated that he had not spoken with President Biden about the migrant crisis for “quite some time.”