New York City is paying illegal immigrants upwards of $4,000 to leave the city’s taxpayer-funded shelters in hopes of alleviating its overstressed temporary housing system. The pilot program, launched last December, has now paid out approximately $600,000 to about 150 illegal immigrant families.
At the moment, approximately 65,000 illegals are housed in the city’s temporary shelter system. One of the largest temporary shelter facilities is located at Floyd Bennett Field, situated in the Marine Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. The National Pulse reported in March that drone footage of the area indicates the tent complex likely houses well over 2,000 illegal immigrants. Meanwhile, in July, the city moved to issue over 7,300 illegal immigrants pre-paid debit cards at the cost of $2.6 million.
“The city is employing all available strategies to offer innovative and cost-effective solutions for recently arrived asylum seekers residing in shelters,” a spokesman for the New York Department of Social Services said in a statement, defending the city’s payouts to illegals for clearing out of shelters. They added, “One hundred fifty households have moved out of shelter and benefitted from this pilot over the last seven months.”
City-contracted agencies administer the grants, which require detailed tracking and receipts from landlords and moving companies. Up to $1,000 of the grant money is designated for purchasing household supplies. City officials have indicated that if the pilot program proves successful, it could be expanded, potentially increasing costs further.
‘SLAP IN THE FACE.’
The influx of illegal immigrants, estimated at over 210,000 since spring 2022, has posed significant financial challenges for New York City. Local lawmakers have criticized the cost of the pilot. Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli described the program as “ridiculous,” raising concerns about ongoing taxpayer expenses. Council Member Robert Holden called the payments “a complete slap in the face to every New Yorker,” criticizing the financial burden on residents.
Officials acknowledge that more than $5 billion has already been spent addressing the illegal immigrant crisis.
