New York's top prosecutor has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its latest attempt to strip food assistance benefits from green card holders. The move is part of a broader effort by the US Department of Agriculture to implement a policy that prohibits refugees and asylees, but not permanent residents with green cards, from receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
According to Attorney General Letitia James, the federal guidance being challenged would unfairly cut off thousands of permanent residents in New York state from their monthly stipend, potentially affecting over 35,000 people. The guidance, which was issued on October 31, instructs states to exclude refugees and asylees who have been granted asylum or refugee status but are now eligible for a green card.
The impact could be devastating for families struggling to make ends meet. New York City alone has approximately 1.8 million SNAP recipients, including three million people across the state who rely on the program to purchase groceries. Recipients have already faced uncertainty and hardship after the Trump administration halted benefits for nearly two weeks during a government shutdown earlier this year.
James' office had previously reached out to the USDA, urging it to correct its guidance, but the agency's response was non-existent. New York is leading a coalition of 21 states, including New Jersey, in challenging this policy. The lawsuit aims to prevent the federal government from forcing states to cut off benefits from permanent residents who were previously granted asylum or admitted as refugees.
The stakes are high, with the USDA threatening financial penalties of up to $1.2 billion for non-compliant states. James denounced the Trump administration's actions as "shameful," stating that no one should be forced to go hungry due to their immigration status. The lawsuit is a significant move in an ongoing effort by state officials to push back against federal policies they believe are unjust and discriminatory.
According to Attorney General Letitia James, the federal guidance being challenged would unfairly cut off thousands of permanent residents in New York state from their monthly stipend, potentially affecting over 35,000 people. The guidance, which was issued on October 31, instructs states to exclude refugees and asylees who have been granted asylum or refugee status but are now eligible for a green card.
The impact could be devastating for families struggling to make ends meet. New York City alone has approximately 1.8 million SNAP recipients, including three million people across the state who rely on the program to purchase groceries. Recipients have already faced uncertainty and hardship after the Trump administration halted benefits for nearly two weeks during a government shutdown earlier this year.
James' office had previously reached out to the USDA, urging it to correct its guidance, but the agency's response was non-existent. New York is leading a coalition of 21 states, including New Jersey, in challenging this policy. The lawsuit aims to prevent the federal government from forcing states to cut off benefits from permanent residents who were previously granted asylum or admitted as refugees.
The stakes are high, with the USDA threatening financial penalties of up to $1.2 billion for non-compliant states. James denounced the Trump administration's actions as "shameful," stating that no one should be forced to go hungry due to their immigration status. The lawsuit is a significant move in an ongoing effort by state officials to push back against federal policies they believe are unjust and discriminatory.
I'm not sure why the Trump admin is trying to strip food benefits from green card holders again... like, can't we just focus on feeding people instead of messing with their immigration status? 
35,000 ppl in NY state alone could lose out on this benefit and it's just not right. And what's with the financial penalty threat? $1.2 billion is a lot of cash, but isn't the idea here to help ppl in need? 
I'm all for states pushing back against federal policies that are unfair or discriminatory, but can't we find a way to make this work for everyone instead of pitting ppl against each other? 
This is insane! How can they do this? Thousands of ppl struggling just to put food on the table & now they're gonna take it away from them because of some arbitrary green card thingy 
. It's not like these people even got a chance to live in the US before, they came here seeking asylum or refuge 
. And now we're punishing them for trying to build a new life? No way, man 
. The fact that the Trump admin is just sitting back and letting this happen is, like, totally messed up 
. I'm all for secure borders and everything, but come on, there's gotta be some humanity in it too 
.
. And 35,000 people in NY state alone? That's just crazy talk! Can't believe they're threatening financial penalties... sounds like extortion to me 
. We need some leadership that actually cares about its people, not just the wealthy and powerful 
.
.
. It shows that states are not going to take this kind of injustice lying down 
. We need more of this kind of resistance to push back against the administration's discriminatory policies 
.
i dont get why they're doing this, it's not like its fair or right. 
james is a total hero for taking on the usda and fighting for these ppl's rights. 
. What's next? They gonna take away healthcare or something? I'm pretty sure the USDA is just trying to cover their own backside, but it's still not right 
. And Letitia James' "shameful" label might be a bit dramatic, but you get what she means 
thousands of people in nyc alone are going to be affected by this 
We should be looking out for each other, not trying to tear each other down.