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New York City Mayor Eric Adams has defended a controversial $53 million 'cash for migrants' program that drew fire from many – including rapper 50 Cent.

Adams 'clarified' that the taxpayer funds will be in the form of prepaid food cards, not American Express  credit cards – which he says will improve the efficiency of food distribution and reduce waste (somehow). Adams claims that it will ultimately cut costs by 20%, vs. say, not handing money to people in the country illegally.

And 50 Cent bought it – posting on social media that he and Adams had spoken, and that the Mayor "appeared to be on point, and on top of things."

The prepaid cards will be around $350 per migrant, per month – about 40% more than New York's SNAP recipients receive. 

Over 173,000 migrants have been through NYC's migrant intake system since the spring of 2022, according to Adams' office.