A contingent of House Republicans demanded in a Wednesday letter that New York City immediately halt its $53 million debit-card program for illegal immigrants, arguing that it incentivizes migrants to come to the city after illegally crossing the border.
In the three-page letter, Representative Lance Gooden (R., Texas) and seven of his GOP colleagues asked Mayor Eric Adams to provide answers about the Immediate Response Card program, including whether it is using federal funds.
“Your office has claimed the program . . . will save New York City around $7.2 million per year by reducing food waste. In reality, these ‘savings’ are worthless when compared to costs created by the incentives your city continues to reinforce,” the letter reads.
The “free handout” initiative, as Gooden calls it, seeks to give illegal-immigrant families up to $350 per week on a pre-paid debit card, which can be used to purchase food and baby supplies. Illegal immigrants who want to participate in the program must sign an affidavit promising to spend money on those items only. Enrolled participants can use the cards at bodegas, grocery stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores until the end of their short-term hotel stays; however, Gooden says, the eligible locations for purchases are not specified.
“Distributing untraceable cash on transferable debit cards will only result in an increase of immigrants residing in NYC,” the letter states. The congressman reminded the mayor of his own warning from September that the city will be “destroyed” by the illegal-immigrant crisis.
The $53 million Immediate Response Card program, which began March 25, costs more than double the amount of New York City’s 2025 budgets for its Department of Veterans Affairs and Office of National and Community Services, according to the letter.
Over 180,000 illegal immigrants have poured into New York City since spring 2022, straining the city government’s resources and taxpayer funds.
“Since you announced the pilot program with Mobility Capital Finance in February, no information has been released explaining how the city plans to track spending or enforce program guidelines beyond claiming funds will be monitored, and eligible migrants must sign an affidavit,” Gooden wrote.
The correspondence lists several questions, including whether New York City, Mobility Capital Finance, and the contracted hotels that provide housing to illegal-immigrant families work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to obtain identification. Other areas of concern involve how the debit-card funds are tracked and how the program determined the eligibility of an illegal immigrant.
Representatives Ralph Norman (R., S.C.), Barry Moore (R., Ala.), Jeff Duncan (R., S.C.), Andy Biggs (R., Ariz.), Darrell Issa (R., Calif.), Tom Tiffany (R., Wis.), and Lauren Boebert (R., Colo.) joined Gooden in penning their concerns to Adams. Fox News first reported on the letter.
“By funneling millions to those who have blatantly disregarded our nation’s laws, Mayor Adams’ program not only undermines our immigration system but insults every American citizen, especially our veterans and those in need,” Gooden said in a statement. “These actions erode the sanctity of American citizenship and incentivize illegal immigration, further exacerbating the crisis at our borders.”
“In a time when Americans face skyrocketing living costs and migrant crime is surging, it is unconscionable that a major American city would prioritize illegal immigrants over the safety and financial security of its own citizens.”