Colorado Joins the Fight to Keep SNAP Benefits for Illegal Aliens

By Marissa Ventrelli | The Denver Gazette

Colorado joined 21 other states in a lawsuit seeking to undo the Trump administration’s campaign to stop taxpayer-funded food aid from going to individuals illegally staying in the U.S., arguing the move also implicated a group of noncitizens who should be eligible to get the benefits under the law.

At issue is a guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that implements the provisions of the congressional budget passed in July. That budget narrowed the groups of noncitizens who could receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that some 90,000 on average will lose eligibility per month as a result of the new law. The individuals would have received about $210 per month on average, according to the office.

The lawsuit filed by the states argues that the USDA is incorrectly implementing the congressional budget’s provisions on SNAP. Specifically, the states said their lawsuit deals with food stamp eligibility for legal permanent residents, regardless of the route they took before their immigration status was adjusted.

The states said the USDA has excluded legal permanent residents or green card holders based on their previous status, including refugees, people granted an asylum and parolees.

Many of the individuals who crossed American borders illegally have been “paroled” into the U.S. Often, they apply for an asylum once they are inside the United States. Many of the thousands who arrived in metro Denver over the past two years, for example, have sought an asylum. Once granted an asylum, they can apply to adjust their status to permanent residency within one year of living in the U.S.

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