Prepaid Debit Cards in $53 Mn Program For Illegal Immigrants in New York

Paresh Jadhav

11 months ago

New York City plans to issue pre-paid cards to 500 migrant families living in hotels as a replacement to current food service. The cards will only work at bodegas, supermarkets and convenience stores.

Local politicians have voiced strong objections to this initiative, with one councilman telling Fox 5 NY that illegal immigrants will benefit from this card program “free stuff” at taxpayer expense.

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City Hall Says Cards Will Only Be Accepted at Bodegas

Asylum seekers in New York City will soon have access to prepaid debit cards to purchase food at local bodegas through a pilot project provided by Mobility Capital Finance, City Hall announced. Mobility Capital Finance expects the initial 500 migrants who receive cards under this project will sign an affidavit promising that all funds earned from using the cards will only be spent on food and baby supplies; otherwise they risk being removed from the program.

Stipulations regarding misuse of cards is designed to deter misuse and the mayor’s office believes this program will save over $7 Million over its lifespan, amounting to an average monthly saving of $600,00 or over $7 Million annually.

Family size and income will determine how much food will be provided each month through these cards; an amount equivalent to $35 daily could reach nearly $1,000 monthly! Cards will be refilled every 28 days.

Recipients Will Have to Sign an Affidavit

The program will offer 500 migrant families cards that can only be used at bodegas, grocery stores, supermarkets and convenience stores, according to a contract reviewed by the New York Post. Mobility Capital Finance of New Jersey will spearhead this initiative on behalf of New York’s administration.

Cards designed to assist migrants waiting on sponsors for work authorization will provide assistance with food expenses while they wait. Recipients will need to sign an affidavit pledging they will use the funds only on food and supplies, or face losing their cards.

Affidavits of support are frequently required in immigration processes to verify that an immigrant’s sponsor has enough income to prevent becoming a public charge in the US. Unfortunately, immigrants sponsored by people who signed “enforceable” affidavits may not qualify for federally funded benefits such as emergency Medicaid or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), so any benefits received must be returned back as soon as possible.

City Hall Says Cards Will Be Refilled Every 28 Days

Cards will be replenished every 28 days and should provide enough money for one family of four to purchase meals, depending on its size. Recipients must sign an affidavit stating they will use these funds exclusively for food, baby supplies and other essential needs; any use outside this scope will result in expulsion from the program.

The Mayor’s Office estimates the city will save around $600,000.00 monthly or over $7 Million per year by switching to the debit card program instead of its current practice of providing non-perishable food items to migrant families residing in hotels.

Critics believe the city is setting migrants up for failure by making purchasing at a supermarket more expensive, leading to greater hunger among migrants – not the way to generate public support for comprehensive immigration reform.

City Hall Says Recipients Will Face Expulsion

This program is an effort led by Mayor Eric Adams of Pittsburgh and New Jersey-based Mobility Capital Finance. Recipients must sign an affidavit agreeing to spend funds solely for food purchases if they want to receive their card; otherwise they could face loss.

The federal welfare law restricts access to public benefits for anyone not living permanently within the US under legal authority; however, some states have taken steps to address this restriction by offering public assistance directly or granting temporary visas for permanent residency in order to bridge this gap in coverage.

Boston’s Democratic mayor recently bussed hundreds of migrants into his city and used a recreational center in an African American neighborhood as a shelter, depriving local children access to facilities they use for sports and other forms of recreation.

Cities across the nation are giving illegal immigrants free clothes, food, and housing; it’s time for Congress to intervene and end this indefensibly corrupt practice of using tax dollars for benefits that go directly to those who violated our laws in order to come here illegally.