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By Aliss Higham
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued new guidance to state agencies regarding the dissemination of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to illegal immigrants.
Newsweek reached out to the USDA for comment via email.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump has made a series of efforts to clamp down on undocumented migrants accessing federal benefits. In an executive order issued on February 19, the president directed federal agencies to "enhance eligibility verification systems, to the maximum extent possible, to ensure that taxpayer funded benefits exclude any ineligible alien."
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SNAP benefits are paid to low- and no-income households across the United States that would otherwise struggle to afford groceries. The program reached some 41 million Americans in 2024. Under current USDA rules, SNAP "is not and has never been available to undocumented non-citizens."
What To Know
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Acting Deputy Under Secretary John Walk have issued guidance to state SNAP agencies, directing them to enhance identity and immigration verification practices when determining eligibility for the anti-hunger benefit. SNAP is funded by the federal government but administered by state agencies.
These have been instructed to "carefully examine their identity and immigration status verification practices and make necessary enhancements," including verifying the identity of applicants by collecting and comparing Social Security numbers and checking the immigration status of recipients.
States are also encouraged to use in-person interviews for new applicants and review these processes, as well as "continuously verify the immigration status of all aliens in the state participating in SNAP since immigration status can quickly change."
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According to the USDA press release issued on April 24, $10.5 billion in improper SNAP payments were made in the 2023 fiscal year, which amounts to about 12 percent of total SNAP payments that year. Improper payments are those that should not have been made or were in an incorrect amount, whether over or under the beneficiary's monthly allotment.
According to a 2024 report from the Government Accountability Office, verifying U.S. citizenship was one of several factors contributing to incorrect payments being made.
"The inadequate verification of an applicant's identity and citizenship by states is specifically highlighted as contributing to the improper payments of SNAP funds," the agency said in the press release.
What People Are Saying
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said: "President Trump has made it clear that American taxpayers will no longer subsidize illegal aliens. We are stewards of taxpayer dollars, and it is our duty to ensure states confirm the identity and verify the immigration status of SNAP applicants. USDA's nutrition programs are intended to support the most vulnerable Americans. To allow those who broke our laws by entering the United States illegally to receive these benefits is outrageous."
What Happens Next
No state has publicly responded to the USDA's directive at the time of writing.
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