New York Attorney General Sues Federal Government Over SNAP Benefit Restrictions
NEW YORK,NY – November 29,2023 – New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a multi-state coalition in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the administration of former President donald Trump, challenging a rule that imposed stricter requirements for legal immigrants to qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.The lawsuit alleges the rule, finalized in 2020, unlawfully restricts access to vital food assistance for hundreds of thousands of individuals and families.
The legal challenge centers on a change to the “public charge” rule, which historically considered factors like reliance on public benefits when determining an immigrant’s eligibility for a green card. The Trump administration broadened this definition to include SNAP, effectively denying benefits to certain legal immigrants who might otherwise qualify, fearing it could jeopardize their path to citizenship. Attorney General James argues this expansion was a politically motivated attempt to deter legal immigration and exceeded the USDA’s authority. The lawsuit seeks to restore SNAP eligibility for those impacted by the rule and prevent its future enforcement.
The lawsuit,filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, contends the USDA’s rule change was arbitrary and capricious, failing to adequately consider the meaningful harm it would inflict on vulnerable populations. According to estimates, approximately 500,000 legal immigrants nationwide were at risk of losing SNAP benefits due to the revised public charge rule. New York State alone has a considerable population of legal immigrants who rely on SNAP to combat food insecurity.
“This cruel and unlawful rule weaponized food assistance against vulnerable immigrant communities,” said Attorney General James in a statement released today. “We will not stand idly by while the federal government attempts to punish legal immigrants for accessing the very programs designed to help them build a better life.”
The lawsuit joins similar legal challenges previously filed by several states and advocacy groups. A federal judge initially blocked the rule from taking effect in 2020, but the supreme Court later allowed it to be implemented while the legal battles continued. The Biden administration has signaled its intention to revise the public charge rule, but Attorney General James maintains that a full legal resolution is necessary to ensure equitable access to SNAP benefits for all eligible individuals.