During an in-person press briefing in Albany on March 26th, New York City Mayor Eric Adams defended the use of prepaid accounts.
As part of a$ 53 million pilot programme that has drawn criticism over whether the idea of “free money” is encouraging more illegal border crossings, New York City authorities started handing out pre-paid payment cards to illegal immigrants on Monday.
The recipients of the pre-paid accounts will have to sign a vow stating that they will only use the cards to purchase food and baby items, according to City Hall, and that they can only use them at bodegas, grocery shops, stores, and convenience stores.
Mixed Communications?
During an in-person press briefing in Albany on March 26th, New York City Mayor Eric Adams defended the use of prepaid accounts.
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A reporter questioned Mr. Adams about whether the prepaid cards offer prospective immigrants a compelling reason to travel to the United States, and whether the system conveys a mixed message in light of the mayor’s repeated attempts to deter illegal immigrants from entering New York City.
” No, it sends a mixed message when it’s distorted”, the mayor replied. He claimed that he gave his staff a clear directive to lower costs relating to the provision of services to illegal immigrants in the Big Apple by 30 %, and that the cards are a part of that plan.
Mr. Adams called the accounts a” cost- successful” earn- get that saves citizens over$ 600, 000 per quarter, or$ 7.2 million per year.
” We’re going to do away with food waste and we’re going to put money back into the nearby economy”, he said.
According to Mr. Adams, criticism is n’t a compelling argument against continuing with the program.
” If we did n’t do things because poeple are going to critique us, we would n’t have gotten thousands of people off our streets that are homeless, we would not have removed our encampments, we would not have taken thousands of guns off the street”, he said. ” We’ve got to do it right”.
Then he was questioned about the issue of expression getting back to the border or more south that generally “free money” is being made available to people and thus encouraging more illegal immigration.
According to Mr. Adams, it is obvious that information will be returned to friends and family in South American nations. Yet the primitive conditions in New York homes are better than the severe problems some people are fleeing.
” That’s going to get back”, he said, adding that,” we have to find the right combination—delivery of solutions, with the same level of dignity, and do it in a way that’s price powerful”.
” And I’m not hearing from my associates down in Ecuador, Columbia, or Mexico that everyone is fleeing to New York because they’re going to find a meal card,” he continued. ” I’m not hearing that”.
There is an effort being made to tell people at the borders by handing out flyers that there are no unrestricted free service for people once they cross into the United States, according to Febien Levy, the lieutenant governor for contacts at Mr. Adams ‘ business.
” There’s no free money. These are not ATM cards, you ca n’t take cash out. If anyone has that thought, they’re wrong”, Mr. Levy said. This is only for girl and food supplies.
Joe Borelli, a councillor from New York City, criticized the programme, telling Fox 5 NY that providing services to illegal immigrants on the taxpayer’s dime sends the wrong information.
Mr. Adams has criticized this assertion, arguing that the software would save New York about$ 7 million annually in comparison to the additional costs associated with actually handing out food to illegitimate immigrants.
At the presentation, the governor argued that the support was necessary to end the “humanitarian problems” that had gripped the city since last spring, when 180, 000 asylum seekers have arrived.
