A group of 20 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit on Monday to stop the Trump administration from forcing states to hand over personal information of people enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The states believe the federal government could use the information to support mass deportations.
States Push Back Against Trump Administration’s Demand for SNAP Data Over Deportation Fears
The Trump administration is already collecting private data from other federal agencies like the IRS and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) find undocumented immigrants. Now, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants states to submit data from SNAP, a program that provides food assistance to over 42 million Americans, mostly low-income families.
The USDA claims the information will help detect fraud, waste, and abuse within the SNAP program. Last week, the department told states they had until Wednesday to share the data.
However, the coalition of states filed a lawsuit seeking a court order to stop the USDA from getting this information. They argue that releasing details like immigration status, birthdates, and home addresses would violate privacy laws.
“It’s a bait-and-switch of the worst kind,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said during a press conference on Monday.
“SNAP recipients provided this information to get help feeding their families, not to be entered into a government surveillance database or be used as targets in the president’s inhumane immigration agenda.”
Critics Fear Privacy Violations and Misuse of Sensitive Data
In May, the USDA stated that it requested SNAP data to follow President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting fraud in state-run programs.
“For years, this program has been on autopilot, with no USDA insight into real-time data,” said USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins.
“The Department is focused on appropriate and lawful participation in SNAP, and today’s request is one of many steps to ensure SNAP is preserved for only those eligible.”
So far, the USDA has not responded to media requests for comments on the lawsuit.
Although the USDA has not mentioned using the data for immigration purposes, critics argue that the administration has used similar strategies in the past. For example, officials first claimed they wanted state Medicaid data to fight fraud—but later admitted they also used it to track undocumented immigrants.
Some USDA officials have warned states that failure to provide the data could result in loss of SNAP funding.
While people without legal immigration status are not eligible to receive SNAP benefits, they can still apply for their U.S. citizen children or other family members with legal status.
The federal government pays for all the food benefits under SNAP, while states pay part of the administrative costs. States are also responsible for deciding who qualifies and for distributing the benefits.
Both immigration and data privacy advocates are concerned about the government’s attempt to get this sensitive information.
“The administration has all but told us that their intention is to comb this data and use it for unlawful purposes that include immigration enforcement,” said Madeline Wiseman, an attorney from the National Student Legal Defense Network.
This organization, along with privacy and hunger-relief groups, had already filed a lawsuit in May challenging the USDA’s SNAP data request.
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