The USDA introduces strict verification measures for SNAP benefits to block illegal immigrants from accessing government food assistance programs, honoring President Trump’s directive against taxpayer subsidization of illegal immigration.

At a Glance

• Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has issued new guidance to strengthen SNAP eligibility verification procedures
• The initiative aligns with President Trump’s executive order to end taxpayer subsidization of illegal immigration
• Improper SNAP payments reached $10.5 billion in FY 2023, approximately 12% of total program disbursements
• Current law already prohibits undocumented immigrants from receiving SNAP benefits
• The directive focuses on enforcing existing rules restricting benefits to citizens and legal residents only

USDA Takes Action Against Benefit Fraud

Under the direction of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the USDA is implementing enhanced verification measures to ensure that only legally eligible individuals receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The new guidance directs state agencies to strengthen their procedures for confirming the identity and immigration status of all SNAP applicants, aiming to prevent unauthorized access by those who entered the country illegally. This initiative comes as part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to reform federal benefit programs and ensure they serve Americans in genuine need.

Addressing System Vulnerabilities

The USDA has identified concerning levels of improper payments within the SNAP program. According to a press release from the department, “A staggering $10.5 billion in improper SNAP payments were made in FY 2023 alone—about 12% of total SNAP payments that year.” This significant figure has prompted the administration to take decisive action to close loopholes and strengthen verification processes that may have allowed ineligible individuals to receive benefits. The department specifically highlighted state-level inconsistencies in verifying identity and citizenship during the application process.

Enforcing Existing Law

Immigration attorneys note that the announcement largely reinforces existing federal laws rather than creating new restrictions. Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, an immigration attorney, pointed out that undocumented immigrants have long been ineligible for public benefits like SNAP. “Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for public benefits like SNAP. And they’re announcing that they will not be giving benefits like SNAP to undocumented immigrants. So it doesn’t change anything about the way things have already been functioning,” Lincoln-Goldfinch explained in an interview with FOX 4 News.

“For as long as I’ve been practicing immigration law, which is decades at this point, there have not been provisions for public benefits like Section 8 housing and like SNAP to people who are undocumented. The public benefits that undocumented immigrants can access are free education for children and emergency medical care.”, said Lincoln-Goldfinch.

Impact on Mixed-Status Families

The directive may have implications for mixed-status families, where children are U.S. citizens but have parents who are undocumented immigrants. Current rules allow citizen children to qualify for benefits based on their own status, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. Lincoln-Goldfinch clarified, “The individual applying for the benefit, it’s their status that matters. So, we might see a U.S. citizen child who has parents who are immigrants. And that child might be eligible for certain types of health insurance or CHIP or public benefits.”

Certain exceptions to eligibility restrictions do exist under current law. According to the USDA’s website, refugees, asylum grantees, and victims of human trafficking may qualify for benefits despite not being citizens or permanent residents. The department has not yet provided additional clarification on how the new verification measures might affect these exceptions, despite requests from media outlets for more detailed information.