Texas Governor Greg Abbott lambasted NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ initiative to distribute credit cards to migrants, describing it as a display of “insanity” and a deeply troubling decision.
“Sounds Like Insanity”
“It sounds like insanity is behind it because it really is offensive. It may be the most reprehensible thing that I’ve seen take place over the past 48 hours,” Abbott said during a Sunday Fox Business interview.
Controversial Timing
Abbott highlighted the timing of the announcement, coming shortly after an incident where migrants were filmed assaulting a police officer near Times Square, only to be released without bail.
Outrageous Situation
He labeled the situation in New York as “outrageous,” pointing to widespread national discontent tied to broader immigration issues attributed to President Joe Biden’s policies.
Busing Migrants
Abbott has been actively sending migrants from Texas to New York City, aiming to share the burden of the border influx. So far, the Texas governor has sent more than 33,000 migrants to New York City.
Accommodating Migrants
The arrivals are accommodated in various shelters across the city, including the Roosevelt Hotel and a tent city on Randall’s Island, highlighting the city’s efforts to manage the migrant surge.
$53 million Program
Last week, New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration announced the $53 million prepaid credit program for essential purchases.
MoCaFi Manages Initivatie
Mobility Capital Finance (MoCaFi), a New Jersey-based organization, will manage the initiative. At first, this program will target asylum seekers staying at the Roosevelt Hotel.
Support Through Credit
Initially targeting 500 families, the program aims to replace existing food services with more flexible spending options for necessities.
Specifics and Safeguards
The cards, restricted for use in food and convenience stores, come with conditions to ensure responsible spending. Migrants must pledge to spend the money solely on food and baby supplies under the threat of expulsion from the program.
Potential Funding
The funding amount will be tailored to family size and income status, potentially reaching up to $1,000 monthly for a family of four.
Future Expansion Plans
Should the initiative prove effective, plans to extend it to all migrant families residing in hotel shelters are in place, potentially benefiting up to 15,000 families, as city officials revealed.
Aid Renewal
This financial aid will be refreshed every 28 days, ensuring ongoing support for the families involved.
Excited for Collaboration
Wole Coaxum, CEO and founder of MoCaFi declared that the company is enthusiastic about its collaboration with New York City to facilitate the distribution of funds to asylum seekers, enabling them to buy fresh, hot food.
Helping Local Economy
Coaxum said, “MoCaFi’s goal is to expand access to financial resources for individuals excluded from banking, such as asylum seekers while helping the local economy.”
Skepticism Over Free Money
New York Republican Councilman Joe Borelli, however, expressed skepticism, stating that giving free money to people and trusting that they will only use it to feed themselves will not be effective.
The Burden on NYC Taxpayers
Borelli told FOX 5, “We’re just giving this migrant population more free stuff at the expense of New York City taxpayers.”
Dual Benefits
Kayla Mamelak, a spokesperson for Mayor Adams, outlined the dual benefits of the program, noting not only the potential for families to purchase fresh food that meets their cultural dietary needs but also the substantial financial savings for the city.
Big Save
According to city officials, the program is expected to save over $600,000 per month, equating to over $7.2 million annually.
Ongoing Asylum Seeker Crisis
This initiative comes as part of New York City’s larger efforts to address the ongoing asylum seeker crisis, which includes housing over 66,000 asylum seekers and managing a situation that is projected to cost $10 billion through 2025.
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