New York City officials are defending a pilot program that hands out prepaid debit cards to illegal immigrants.
The mayor, deputy mayors and other officials have defended the city's trial run of the program, saying that the prepaid cards are intended for use purchasing essential supplies and not frivolous handouts.
"There is no free money. These are not ATM cards. You can’t take cash out," said Deputy Mayor Fabien Levy at a press conference, according to Politico.
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The pilot program is starting off small, with only 10 families receiving the debit cards and with plans to scale up to 115 families soon.
"We can take a look at it after six weeks and see what’s working and what’s not," Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom said, according to the Politico report.
A $53 million deal for the program was struck with New Jersey-based Mobility Capital Finance. Families with two children under 5 are slated to receive $350 a week on the cards, according to the New York Post.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams himself pushed back on accusations that the prepaid debit cards
Adam was asked Tuesday if handing out the prepaid cards to migrants while simultaneously urging incoming arrivals to go someplace else sends a "mixed message."
"It sends a mixed message when it’s distorted," Adams said.
The first batch of debit cards, which are reportedly meant to be used by the illegal immigrants to purchase food and baby supplies, were handed out Monday to a handful of migrant families in the city, the mayor's office previously confirmed with Fox News Digital.
The effort is part of a reported $53 million pilot program to hand out prepaid credit cards to migrant families housed in hotels despite public outcry.
Fox News Digital's Kyle Morris contributed to this report.
