A coalition of 20 states along with Washington, D.C. revealed on Monday that they are filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration to halt what they describe as an “illegal data grab” targeting food stamp recipients.
The suit, submitted in a California federal court, contests the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s request for years of personal data on all Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, which would include details like Social Security numbers, immigration status, marital history, and education.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the USDA’s broad data demand unprecedented and a breach of federal privacy protections. New York Attorney General Letitia James called it a direct assault on immigrant communities.
“Weaponizing the SNAP Program”
“They are basically trying to weaponize the SNAP program against immigrant communities in violation of the law,” James said. “We will not allow this life-saving program to be illegally used to hunt down immigrants and their families.”
James said the USDA’s request isn’t about routine program checks, but rather about leveraging SNAP to assist in deportations. She recently filed a separate suit challenging federal moves to block undocumented immigrants from emergency social programs.
Connecticut, New Jersey, and additional states are expected to join the suit.
USDA Silent, DOJ Declines Comment
The USDA, which issued its initial request in May and added new information categories last week, referred inquiries to the Department of Justice. DOJ representatives declined to give a statement.
The USDA has argued the request is a result of a directive from President Donald Trump intended to cut “waste, fraud, and abuse” in federal programs. States were told to comply by July 30 or risk losing funding, pending potential court intervention.
Broader Pattern of Surveillance?
The legal challenge coincides with reports that the Trump administration broadened data sharing with immigration enforcement. ICE is already obtaining Medicaid records to locate undocumented immigrants, according to the Associated Press. While undocumented people do not qualify for standard Medicaid, they might receive Emergency Medicaid for urgent medical treatment.
In New York state alone, SNAP supports nearly 3 million residents, including 1.8 million in New York City and roughly 500,000 children. Although undocumented individuals cannot get benefits themselves, they are allowed to apply for their U.S.-born children.
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