New York City’s controversial program that handed out taxpayer-funded debit cards to illegal immigrants has officially hit the chopping block. Mayor Eric Adams announced the end of the pilot program on Thursday, which was sending hundreds of dollars every week to illegal immigrant families staying in city-funded hotels.
Adams claims the decision is all part of a move toward “competitive contracting” for asylum seeker services. But the timing? It’s a little too perfect. Just 48 hours after President-Elect Trump’s win and his renewed promises of strong border security and mass deportations, the city suddenly decided to pull the plug on a program that was siphoning millions of taxpayer dollars for questionable purposes.
Let’s break down how this program worked. Illegal immigrants living in NYC’s hotel shelters received weekly debit cards for food, with families of four reportedly getting several hundred dollars each week. There was no restriction on what they could buy, so it was essentially a free-for-all. Local media reported that these funds were used at the recipients’ discretion, sparking obvious concerns about accountability and the use of taxpayer money. NYC was pouring millions into this initiative while taxpayers watched their own costs of living rise as the city doled out cash for hotel stays, food, and other benefits for people who aren’t even legally in the country.
NEW: Democrat New York City Mayor Eric Adams announces that NYC will no longer be issuing vouchers to illegal immigrants.
Remarkable. Trump gets elected and everyone falls in line.
The decision came one day after Adams reportedly had a phone call with Trump.
“As we move… pic.twitter.com/gI8HyJiqdg
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 8, 2024
Of course, Elon Musk’s America PAC took notice, posting about it on X (formerly Twitter) and calling out the city’s sudden shift. And they’re not wrong to highlight the timing. Adams’ announcement comes right on the heels of Trump’s win, with Trump doubling down on plans to secure the border and push for mass deportations starting in January. It seems pretty clear that New York City is feeling the pressure to curb these kinds of policies that have come under serious scrutiny from the right—and even from some on the left who are starting to question the spending priorities here.
Trump, for his part, isn’t mincing words. In an interview with NBC, he emphasized his stance on immigration, saying, “We obviously have to make the border strong and powerful… We want people to come in,” but they need to come legally. And on the subject of deportations, Trump said, “It’s not a question of a price tag… When people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now they’re going to go back to those countries because they’re not staying here. There is no price tag.”
JUST IN: Illegal immigrants take to the streets in New York City, say they are not leaving the United States.
The development comes as Donald Trump is vowing to carry out the largest deportation operation in US history.pic.twitter.com/mNeL6MnK00
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 9, 2024
So, here we are: New York’s hand was forced. Adams can call it “competitive contracting” all he wants, but the reality is clear—the city’s cash flow for illegal immigrants was going to come under serious scrutiny once Trump takes office, and the program wouldn’t have survived a week under that microscope.
BREAKING: NYC Mayor Eric Adams announces end to program that gave debit cards to illegal immigrants less than 48 hours after Donald Trump’s victory
— America (@america) November 8, 2024
With Trump heading to the White House, it’s not just about putting an end to free debit cards for illegal immigrants. It’s about drawing a hard line on immigration policy that prioritizes American citizens and taxpayers over anyone breaking the law to cross the border. Looks like New York City got the memo.
