Illegal Immigrants and Access to SNAP Benefits
Data indicates that some undocumented immigrants (often referred to as illegal immigrants) do access Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, commonly known as food stamps, primarily through mixed-status households.
Estimates from the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), based on the 2024 Survey of Income and Program Participation, suggest that up to 4.5 million undocumented immigrants may be part of households receiving SNAP benefits, despite program rules requiring the primary applicant to have legal status.
How Benefits Reach Undocumented Household Members
SNAP eligibility officially requires legal status for the applicant, but other household members—including those without legal status—are not required to disclose their immigration status and can still benefit from the assistance provided to the household.
Undocumented immigrants are also eligible for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
According to CIS analysis, 47% of all noncitizen households (including both legal and undocumented immigrants) receive food assistance through SNAP, WIC, or both.
CIS further estimates that 59.4% of households headed by undocumented immigrants use at least one major welfare program.
Trump Administration Reforms to SNAP Program
The SNAP program currently serves approximately 43 million people—about 12% of the U.S. population—at an annual cost of roughly $100 billion. Enrollment grew significantly during the COVID-19 period.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has described the program as having significant issues with fraud and has initiated a comprehensive review.
This includes requiring all recipients to reapply and requesting detailed data from states.
To date, 29 states (mostly Republican-led) have provided data, which reportedly revealed issues such as benefits continuing to deceased individuals (186,000 cases identified), duplicate payments, and benefits claimed in multiple states.
The administration is pursuing legal action against non-compliant states, including New York and California, to obtain their data.
Rollins, working with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is also encouraging states to restrict purchases of items like soda and candy under SNAP.
Eleven states have requested waivers to implement such restrictions; most are Republican-led, with Colorado as the exception.
Should illegal immigrants receive SNAP? Comment down below what you think!
