Texas Governor Denounces New York’s Plan to Give Illegal Immigrants Prepaid Debit Cards

Illegal immigrants pass through a gap in the U.S. border wall to await processing by Border Patrol agents in Jacumba, Calif., on Dec. 7, 2023. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has reacted critically to New York Mayor Eric Adams’s plan to provide illegal immigrants in the Big Apple with prepaid debit cards, saying it’s “insanity” for taxpayers to be on the hook for the $53 million program.

Mr. Abbott, who’s leading efforts in Texas to bolster border security as the Lone Star State faces record numbers of illegal border crossers, made the remarks in an interview on Fox Business on Feb. 4.

The interview kicked off with host Maria Bartiromo asking Mr. Abbott for his reaction to former President Donald Trump’s plan to deport most of the 10 million or so illegal immigrants estimated to have entered the country under the current administration.

“This is more than rhetoric on his part,” Mr. Abbott said of President Trump’s tough talk on solving the border crisis. “He has a proven record” on the border. Mr. Abbott pointed out that Trump’s policies led to the lowest illegal border crossings in about 40 years.

‘Sounds Like Insanity’

Mr. Abbott, a Republican, then praised the support his state has received from a coalition of governors who back Texas in its dispute with the Biden administration over securing its border with Mexico by putting up razor wire.

“If we put up resistance, we show that we can secure the border,” Mr. Abbott said, noting that the concertina wire barriers—the subject of a lawsuit between Texas and the Biden administration—have led to a “massive” reduction in illegal border crossings in the area.

Ms. Bartiromo then asked Mr. Abbott for his thoughts about the recently announced pilot program that will provide prepaid cards to illegal immigrants in New York even as the city faces sharp cuts to services because money had to be diverted to cover expenses associated with the influx.

“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,” Mr. Abbott said.

He was quick to note that news about the prepaid debit cards came just days after a group of illegal immigrants beat two police officers near Times Square in an incident captured on video. Most of the suspects were released without bail, with some reportedly fleeing by bus to California under fake names.

“What’s going on in New York is outrageous and Americans across the country are angry, not just about what’s going on in New York, but the underlying cause for it, which is Joe Biden’s open border policies,” Mr. Abbott said.

Like many Republicans, Mr. Abbott has blamed President Biden’s policies for fueling the border crisis.

President Biden and members of his administration have sought to deflect blame, pointing to factors such as a “broken” immigration system, crime and corruption in South American countries that drive people to flee their homes, and even climate change.

Prepaid Debit Card Program

Mr. Abbott’s remarks about border security come as records and reports indicate that New York City has awarded a $53 million contract to a company called Mobility Capital Finance (MoCaFi), which will create and distribute the prepaid cards to illegal immigrants.

Called “immediate response cards,” the prepaid debit cards will soon be handed out directly by MoCaFi staff to “asylum seekers receiving financial assistance,” records show.

A police officer hands out pizza to dozens of recently arrived illegal immigrants to New York City as they camp outside of the Roosevelt Hotel, which has been made into a reception center, where they try to secure temporary housing on Aug. 1, 2023. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

MoCaFi will start delivering the cards to the Roosevelt Hotel, the first touchpoint for illegal immigrants arriving in the city.

The first to receive the cards will be families with children under the care of New York City’s Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) agency.

“MoCaFi looks forward to partnering with New York City to disburse funds for asylum seekers to purchase fresh, hot food,” MoCaFi CEO and founder Wole Coaxum said in a statement to the New York Post.

The mayor’s office said that the program will start by providing the prepaid cards to 500 families, with restrictions on how they can spend the money.

“We will provide pre-paid debit cards to an initial 500 migrant families with children who may use the pre-paid cards exclusively at bodegas, grocery stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores to ensure the money is spent on food and baby supplies,” the City Hall statement reads, according to Fox 5 New York.

Recipients will have to sign an affidavit promising to spend the money on the cards only on food and baby supplies; they'll face removal from the program if they do otherwise, according to the New York Post.

‘More Free Stuff’

New York City Councilman Joe Borelli criticized the program, telling Fox 5 New York that it’s providing illegal immigrants with services on the taxpayer dime.

“We’re just giving this migrant population more free stuff at the expense of New York City taxpayers,” he told the outlet.

Taxpayers in New York City face sharp cuts to services such as policing and education because the city has had to divert money to cover expenses associated with the influx of illegal immigrants.

Neither HPD nor Mr. Adams’s office replied to a request for more details about the program.

However, a spokesperson for Mr. Adams’s office told the New York Post that the program will make it easier for qualifying families to get the food of their choice—and will save the city money.

“Not only will this provide families with the ability to purchase fresh food for their culturally relevant diets and the baby supplies of their choosing, but the pilot program is expected to save New York City more than $600,000 per month, or more than $7.2 million annually,” Kayla Mamelak, the mayor’s spokesperson, said.

New York Mayor Eric Adams speaks during his weekly press conference at New York City Hall on Nov. 14, 2023. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

New York City has faced an illegal immigration crisis of historic proportions.

Mr. Adams said in a State of the City address at the end of January that 172,000 illegal immigrants have come to New York City over the past year or so.

Amid the influx, Mr. Adams has walked a fine line between empathy and criticism.

For instance, he warned in September 2023 that the unending influx of illegal immigrants would “destroy New York City.”

He has also pleaded for federal help, lamenting that the Biden administration’s lack of action was leaving cities to fend for themselves.