A coalition of 21 Democrat state attorneys general has filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from enforcing new SNAP eligibility rules that took effect Nov. 1 — a policy designed to limit benefits to some qualified legal residents while preventing illegal migrants from accessing taxpayer-funded assistance.
The lawsuit, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, targets an Oct. 31 USDA guidance memo that implements provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025.
The guidance narrows eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), excluding most non-citizens — including many migrants who originally entered the U.S. through humanitarian parole, asylum claims, or other temporary protection categories.
Under the new rules, SNAP eligibility is reserved for U.S. citizens, green-card holders (subject to traditional requirements), Cuban and Haitian entrants, and citizens of the COFA nations.
The USDA also ordered states to conduct stricter verification checks to ensure illegal immigrants do not receive benefits, reversing the expansive eligibility interpretations used under the Biden administration.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said recently her department informed all 50 states with an order,
Blue State AGs Sue Trump Admin Over SNAP Cuts for Illegals
