Twenty-one Democratic attorneys general are fighting efforts by the Trump administration to potentially use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program data in its immigration crackdown.
In a lawsuit announced on Monday, the officials are challenging demands by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that states release personal data about SNAP recipients, including Social Security numbers, home addresses and their immigration status by July 30. That demand comes as Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons has said that the Trump administration intends to use data from social programs like Medicaid to gather “intelligence” on undocumented immigrants and track people down. USDA, meanwhile, has claimed that its request for personal data is aimed at verifying applicants’ eligibility for SNAP, also known as food stamps, and reducing fraud and abuse in the program.
USDA and DOJ Silent on Lawsuit Challenging SNAP Data Demands: Twenty-one Democratic attorneys general are suing the Trump administration, alleging misuse of SNAP recipient data for immigration enforcement. The USDA, referring inquiries to the Justice Department, offered no comment on the pending litigation. The DOJ has yet to respond. The lawsuit challenges USDA demands for sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers and addresses, arguing it violates privacy rights and discourages SNAP participation
The Democratic AGs behind the suit argue that these personal data requests will deter immigrants from applying for social programs and be used to identify undocumented people for enforcement actions as Trump continues to ramp up deportations. There are roughly forty million people who use SNAP benefits in the U.S., and non-citizen parents are able to apply for benefits for their children who are citizens.
The AGs note that the USDA’s efforts are a violation of privacy laws and constitutional protections that recipients of these programs are entitled to. Their lawsuit seeks to prevent the Trump administration from withholding SNAP funding for states that don’t comply with these data requests — a threat that the AGs say USDA has previously made.
“President Trump continues to weaponize private and sensitive personal information — not to root out fraud, but to create a culture of fear where people are unwilling to apply for essential services,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Monday in a statement. “We’re talking about kids not getting school lunch; fire victims not accessing emergency services; and other devastating, and deadly, consequences.”
This suit adds to legal pushback on the administration’s attempts to access sensitive data: Already, it’s made moves to use Medicaid data to identify undocumented immigrants, which has prompted another lawsuit from Democratic AGs. The administration is also using IRS data as another way to find undocumented people; Democratic officials warn that SNAP data could be next.
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“This administration is attempting to use this program as a tool in their cruel and chaotic targeting of immigrants,” New York Attorney General Letitia James told reporters. “It is outrageous. It is unacceptable.”
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