States file suit over SNAP changes, calling them unlawful

Twenty-one states have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture over eligibility changes in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The suit says the new guidance cuts off benefits by treating several groups of legal immigrants as ineligible for food assistance, including permanent residents who were granted asylum or admitted as refugees. It argues that the guidance contradicts federal law while imposing huge penalties on states. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Eugene, Oregon, is asking the court to declare the new guidance unconstitutional. “The law is clear on who can receive SNAP benefits, yet the Trump Administration is trying to strip rightful recipients of the support they need to feed their families,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. It’s estimated that more than 60% of the 42 million SNAP recipients are single-parent households headed by women.