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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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The Trump administration has moved to prevent undocumented immigrants from accessing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
On Tuesday, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins directed the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to immediately clarify and enforce all rules restricting its beneficiaries to U.S. citizens and legal residents.
"The days in which taxpayer dollars are used to subsidize illegal immigration are over," Rollins said in a statement.
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Why It Matters
Commonly known as "food stamps," SNAP benefits are distributed nationwide to low- and no-income households that might otherwise struggle to afford groceries. In 2023, the program served an average of 42.1 million people per month, accounting for 12.6 percent of the U.S. population.
In 2022, nearly 40 percent of SNAP beneficiaries were children, with 11.6 percent under the age of 5 and 28 percent between the ages of 5 and 17. Cuts to the program could affect millions of people. The percentage of Americans receiving benefits varies by state, but in 2023, the highest rates were found in Oregon, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Illinois, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
Immigrants without legal status typically do not qualify for federal benefits. However, Republican critics say there has been widespread fraud in the system.
What To Know
The move comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order eliminating any taxpayer-funded benefits that may have been provided to undocumented immigrants.
"My Administration will uphold the rule of law, defend against the waste of hard-earned taxpayer resources, and protect benefits for American citizens in need, including individuals with disabilities and veterans," the order reads.
Immigrants granted parole into the U.S. are eligible for specific benefits, such as Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), but only for a limited time. During the Biden administration, more than a million individuals were paroled into the U.S., meaning they were legally admitted under temporary programs.
The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), a right-wing anti-immigrant group, says that "American taxpayers spend at least $182 billion annually to cover the costs incurred by the presence of 20 million illegal aliens and their children."
As of 2018, 4.4 million children under 18 lived with at least one undocumented parent, according to the American Immigration Council.
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According to the CATO Institute, "the biggest myth in the debate over immigrant welfare use is that noncitizens — which includes illegal immigrants and those lawfully present on various temporary visas and green cards — disproportionately consume welfare. That is not the case. Noncitizen immigrants consumed 54 percent less welfare than native-born Americans."
Republican Senator Joni Ernst introduced a bill to tackle overpayments in the program.
In California, some immigrants are eligible for food assistance through CalFresh, the state's version of SNAP. Unlike in some other states, California allows certain immigrants to receive benefits regardless of when they arrived in the U.S.
Qualified immigrants who can access CalFresh include lawful permanent residents, also known as green card holders, and refugees and individuals granted asylum or withholding of deportation or removal.
Cuban and Haitian entrants also qualify, along with survivors of domestic violence who fall under the protections of the Violence Against Women Act. Additionally, individuals paroled into the U.S. for at least one year may be eligible.
Food assistance may still be available through state-funded programs for immigrants who do not meet these qualifications. The California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) provides benefits to some non-citizens who do not qualify for federal aid. Households that include both eligible and ineligible members, such as U.S. citizen children of undocumented parents, can still apply for CalFresh on behalf of those who qualify.
What People Are Saying
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, in a press release: "Today's directive affirms that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will follow the law—full stop."
Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) said in a statement shared with Newsweek: "It is clear that access to the vast array of public benefits that have been made available to illegal aliens has been a driving force behind years of record illegal immigration and the crushing burdens it has imposed on American taxpayers."
Democratic Texas Representative Veronica Escobar said: "Over 40 million Americans, including 152,000 El Pasoans, rely on SNAP to help feed their families. But this budget slashes at least $230 billion from food assistance programs, even as grocery prices remain high despite Donald Trump's empty promises to immediately lower grocery bills."
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