New York City announced Thursday it will soon stop giving migrants prepaid debit cards for food. A spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams’ office said it will not renew the “immediate response cards pilot program.” The program directed funds toward migrant families in the city’s Housing Preservation and Development system that were living in hotels.

The city awarded an emergency contract to Mobility Capital Finance at the end of January to launch the program but will not renew the agreement, the spokesperson said. The contract will end in January 2025. The contract, which was for $53 million, helped the city “redirect” money to the local economy while providing “culturally relevant” food to more than 2,600 migrant families, the spokesperson noted.

“Thanks to our resettlement efforts, intensive case management, and national-leading Asylum Application Help Center, more than 160,000 migrants have left our shelter system and taken their next steps towards self-sufficiency,” the statement reads.

Power Malu, described as a “migrant advocate,” expressed concern to CBS New York over the quality of food that families in the program will receive once the contract expires.

“I am worried about these families ’cause we’re gonna go right back to where we were in the beginning when families used to come to me and say, ‘I’m getting frozen meals at the shelters, I’m getting these boxed meals with just crackers and sandwiches, and this is all I’m getting,’” CBS New York quoted Malu as saying. However, the New York State Republican Party celebrated New York City’s move Friday as a “step in the right direction.” David Laska, the director of communications for the party, said both the city and state must “prepare to cooperate with the Trump administration.”

Have a news tip? Contact Ray Lewis at rjlewis@sbgtv.com or at x.com/rayjlewis.