The recent court’s decision prohibits the federal government’s efforts to impose severe financial penalties on states and protects the continued operation of SNAP programs while the case proceeds.
A federal judge has barred the Trump administration’s plans to fine states millions of dollars for their SNAP operations. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food and groceries to millions of Americans, including Green Card holders, is facing a crackdown. The Trump administration claims that the government’s largest food assistance program, the Food Stamp program, is plagued with fraud and must be stopped.
In an effort to combat fraud, the Trump administration has asked that states turn over data on individual SNAP participants, including Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and immigration status.
On November 26, a coalition of 21 attorneys general sued the Trump administration after it attempted to cut off SNAP benefits for tens of thousands of lawful permanent residents.
On December 10, the administration reversed itself and issued new guidance, confirming that lawful permanent residents – including former refugees and asylees – remain eligible for SNAP benefits.
Despite that reversal, the administration continued to threaten states with millions of dollars in fines, claiming that states had missed a required “grace period” for implementing the new guidance, even though the final guidance was not issued until December 10.
SNAP Update
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to penalize states with millions of dollars in fines related to their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) operations.
On December 15, the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon issued an order temporarily blocking penalties imposed by the Trump administration.
The court’s decision prohibits the federal government’s efforts to impose severe financial penalties on states and protects the continued operation of SNAP programs while the case proceeds.
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said, “The Trump administration tried to illegally take SNAP benefits from green card holders, despite their lawful status in this country. We sued, and they backed down.
Then they tried to charge our states massive fines for not sufficiently implementing the guidance that they themselves have delayed, withdrawn, and reissued because they couldn’t figure out how to do so lawfully.
This administration has violated the law time and again, always showing both its malice and its incompetence. Once again, the courts have sided with us and stopped the administration from implementing these illegal fines.
We will continue to do everything we can to keep this critical program running smoothly so that Washington seniors, children, and people living with disabilities can put food on the table this holiday season.”
What is SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps people with low income buy groceries and food under the government-run program.
Although SNAP is a federal program, state agencies run the program through local offices. One is eligible to receive SNAP benefits if they meet certain income and resource requirements.
Also Read: H-1B $100k visa fee under fire as 19 states sue Trump administration
SNAP Eligibility
Only U.S. citizens and certain lawfully present noncitizens, like the US Green Card holders, may receive SNAP benefits. Some lawfully present noncitizens must wait 5 years before getting SNAP benefits.
If your children are lawfully present or are U.S. citizens, they may still be eligible for SNAP benefits even if you are not eligible. You can apply for your children without providing information about your immigration status.
SNAP is the only nutrition program with a citizenship requirement and undocumented immigrants are not eligible for SNAP. However, qualifying immigrants can enroll in SNAP if they meet income and work requirements and have a qualifying immigration status:
A naturalized U.S citizen
A lawful permanent resident under the age of 18 (green card holder), no matter how long they have been in the U.S.
A lawful permanent resident over the age of 18 (green card holder) with legal status for 5+ years, a military connection, 40 qualifying work quarters, or a disability.