20 States Sue Trump Over SNAP Data Collection Plan/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Twenty U.S. states have sued the Trump administration over its efforts to collect personal data from SNAP recipients. Officials fear the data will be used to assist immigration enforcement, violating privacy laws. The USDA claims the move targets fraud, but critics call it a cover for surveillance.
Trump SNAP Data Demands: Quick Looks
- 20 state attorneys general filed suit against the Trump administration over SNAP data requests.
- The USDA demanded personal data of food aid recipients by Wednesday, citing fraud prevention.
- California AG Rob Bonta: The request is a “bait-and-switch” to target immigrants.
- The lawsuit seeks to block data transfer, calling it a privacy violation.
- Critics argue data could be used to support mass deportations.
- The USDA previously sought similar data from Medicaid and IRS databases.
- SNAP serves over 42 million Americans, including children in mixed-status families.
- The administration has threatened to cut SNAP funding to noncompliant states.
- USDA claims it’s fighting fraud, but immigration enforcement motives are suspected.
- Advocates and legal groups call the move inhumane and potentially unconstitutional.
Deep Look: 20 States Sue Trump Administration Over SNAP Data Grab
WASHINGTON (AP) — A coalition of 20 state attorneys general has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of attempting to weaponize a federal nutrition assistance program to further its immigration enforcement agenda. At the center of the legal clash is a demand from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to access personal data on millions of Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps.
Filed Monday, the lawsuit seeks to block the transfer of sensitive data, which includes recipients’ birthdates, home addresses, and immigration status. According to the complaint, the data request violates privacy laws and could be used to identify and deport undocumented individuals, even though many recipients are U.S. citizens or legal residents in mixed-status households.
“It’s a bait-and-switch of the worst kind,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is leading the legal challenge. “Families gave this information to feed their children—not to be hunted down by immigration authorities.”
USDA Pushes for Broad Access
In a directive issued last week, the USDA gave states until Wednesday to comply with the data request. The agency justified the move by citing a broader effort to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in the system.
“The Department is focused on appropriate and lawful participation in SNAP,” said USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins in May. “This is one of many steps to ensure SNAP is preserved for only those eligible.”
However, critics and legal experts argue the timing and scope of the request—coupled with the administration’s recent actions—suggest the true intent is to expand immigration enforcement. The Trump administration has already directed the IRS and Medicaid programs to share private data with Homeland Security, sparking concerns that this is part of a coordinated effort.
Threats of Funding Cuts
States that fail to comply with the USDA’s directive risk losing critical federal funding for SNAP. While the federal government funds 100% of the food benefits, states are responsible for administrative costs and determining eligibility.
This new policy puts states in a legal bind: comply with what they view as an unconstitutional data grab or face financial penalties that could devastate low-income households.
“We refuse to betray our residents’ trust and hand over their private information,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “This is surveillance disguised as fraud prevention.”
Concerns for Mixed-Status Families
Although undocumented immigrants are ineligible for SNAP, they may apply on behalf of their U.S. citizen children or other eligible household members. That nuance hasn’t stopped immigration officials from targeting mixed-status families in past enforcement actions.
“What we’re seeing is the administration attempting to backdoor its way into mass data collection for deportation purposes,” said Madeline Wiseman, a lawyer with the National Student Legal Defense Network. “They’ve done this before with Medicaid—and now SNAP is the next target.”
Wiseman’s organization filed a separate lawsuit in May, joined by privacy and hunger relief groups, to contest similar efforts by the USDA.
Administration Silent on Motive
While the USDA has refrained from publicly connecting the data request to immigration enforcement, other federal agencies have already acknowledged such motives. For example, a top immigration official admitted last week that Medicaid data—initially obtained to investigate fraud—is now being used to track undocumented immigrants.
The SNAP case appears to follow the same playbook, further escalating concerns about data misuse and state-level resistance.
States Standing Firm
In addition to California and New York, the lawsuit includes states like Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington. All plaintiffs insist that turning over personal data without clear legal justification would violate not only state privacy laws but also federal statutes protecting confidential government information.
The outcome of the case could determine how far federal agencies can go in demanding sensitive state-held data, especially in the name of fraud prevention that may ultimately be used for unrelated enforcement operations.
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