Migrants in New York City will not receive up to $10,000 in prepaid debit cards

A New York City-funded pilot program will give prepaid debit cards to some migrants sheltering in the city’s hotels to pay for food. But those debit cards are not worth up to $10,000, as social media users have claimed. 

In an Instagram reel, a person says, "While the city is currently crumbling under the weight of the illegal aliens, they decided it would be a brilliant idea to give out prepaid debit cards with up to $10,000 on them. And by the way this is taxpayer money going to the illegals with no form of identification, no restrictions and no fraud control." 

The user then directs people to read the full article on The Gateway Pundit, a conservative website that regularly publishes misinformation. 

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Elon Musk, the CEO of X, amplified the claim by sharing a post on X with the mispunctuated comment "Wow" that said, "Breaking News: Mayor Adams plan is to give Illegal’s $10,000 each with No ID check required, No Fraud control and No Restrictions." 

A New York Post article also made the inaccurate claim that the pilot program would give migrants up to $10,000 each. 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Feb. 5 during a press conference that the prepaid debit cards are part of a pilot program intended to distribute food in a cheaper and more efficient way to migrant families sheltering in New York City hotels.

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New York City has a legal mandate to provide shelter to those who need it for 30 days. Kayla Mamelak, Adams’ deputy press secretary, told PolitiFact the right to shelter also includes providing meal services. Nonperishable food boxes are currently delivered to those sheltering at New York City hotels. 

Mamelak said the cards would give each person about $12 to $13 per day and can be used for only 28 days. She added that the cards’ use is limited to supermarkets and bodegas, or small stores. 

"Those in the program are signing an affidavit saying they’re only going to use it on food, baby supplies and hygiene supplies," she said. 

Adams has estimated the debit cards will save the city approximately $600,000 a month, or $7.2 million a year. 

William Fowler, a spokesperson for the city’s Housing Preservation and Development department, told PolitiFact that the debit cards will go to 500 families with children sheltering at New York City hotels. He said the cards’ allowance for the 28-day period varies by family size and makeup. 

Fowler sent PolitiFact a graph with varying allotments for the cards. A family of four receives a $1,195 allotment for 28 days. Pregnant people and children ages 5 to 17 are given an additional $36 during the 28-day period, and children younger than 5 are given an additional $100 during the 28 days. For example, a family of four with two 10-year-olds would receive $1,267.

Fowler added that the debit card allotments are similar to the amount of money given through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and that the cards have the same industry standard fraud restrictions as any debit or credit card. 

We rate the claim that New York City is giving migrants prepaid debit cards of up to $10,000 without restrictions False.