NYC Launches Debit Card Program for Migrants Amid Mixed Reactions

The initiative aims to provide financial aid for essentials while facing scrutiny over potential incentives for increased migration.

New York City's pilot program to provide prepaid debit cards to migrant families for food and baby supplies has launched without issues, according to city officials and the program's vendor.
The program, criticized by some as potentially wasteful, aims to save the city money, reduce food waste, and support local businesses by allowing migrants to purchase their own groceries.
Critics argue the program could incentivize more migrants to come to New York, despite the city's claims of being at capacity, and raise concerns about fairness to the city's working poor.
The debit cards, which vary in amount based on family size, are part of a $53 million contract with Mobility Capital Finance and can only be used at grocery stores, convenience stores, and bodegas.
Supporters argue the program benefits both migrants, by allowing them to buy food that meets their needs and preferences, and the local economy, by directing funds to local businesses.