The United States government has intensified efforts to prevent undocumented immigrants from accessing federally funded food assistance programs, following a directive from the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins.
In a statement released on Friday, Rollins ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enhance its oversight of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps. The directive specifically instructs state agencies to strengthen eligibility verification processes to ensure that only qualified U.S. citizens and legal residents receive benefits.
Rollins emphasized that the USDA’s primary responsibility is to safeguard taxpayer dollars and ensure federal nutrition programs serve the most vulnerable Americans—not those who entered the country unlawfully.
“President Trump has made it clear that American taxpayers will no longer subsidize illegal aliens,” Rollins stated. “We are stewards of taxpayer dollars, and it is our duty to ensure states confirm the identity and verify the immigration status of SNAP applicants.”
She added, “USDA’s nutrition programs are intended to support the most vulnerable Americans. To allow those who broke our laws by entering the United States illegally to receive these benefits is outrageous.”
The move is in direct alignment with former President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at curbing public benefits for undocumented immigrants as part of his broader effort to address what he calls the “open borders crisis.”
According to the USDA, states are now expected to rigorously verify immigration status and enforce stricter documentation requirements before granting SNAP benefits. This measure is expected to reduce fraudulent claims and prevent unauthorized access to social welfare services.
Critics, however, argue that such policies may result in increased food insecurity among immigrant families, including those with mixed immigration status, where children are U.S. citizens but their parents are not. Immigration advocacy groups have also raised concerns about racial profiling and administrative overreach.
Nonetheless, the Trump-aligned USDA leadership insists that the policy is about fiscal responsibility and national integrity. “This is about ensuring our programs are used as intended—to support law-abiding, eligible American citizens who genuinely need assistance,” Rollins added.
The directive is expected to take effect immediately, with state agencies given a deadline to report back on their updated verification measures.
