July 29, 2025court rulingFood PolicyImmigration EnforcementPrivacy RightsFederalismimmigrationfood securityprivacy
Twenty-two states sue USDA over SNAP recipient surveillance
A coalition of 22 state attorneys general filed a federal lawsuit challenging a USDA directive requiring states to share personal data on SNAP food assistance recipients with federal immigration authorities. The states argued the directive violated the Privacy Act, exceeded USDA statutory authority, and would chill participation in a critical nutrition program. Millions of eligible families were expected to disenroll out of fear of immigration consequences.