BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell has joined forces with 21 other Attorneys General to push a lawsuit against the Trump Administration and what they call ‘unlawful SNAP guidance.’
The group of legal advisors said they are seeking to block new guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that would limit program eligibility under ‘The Big Beautiful Bill.’
This push from AGs is in favor of non-citizens allowed into the country through Humanitarian Protection Programs, like refugees or those granted asylum.
In a new guidance issued by the USDA in October, AGs say it was incorrectly asserted that all individuals who enter the country through humanitarian means would remain permanently ineligible for SNAP benefits, even after receiving green cards and becoming lawful permanent residents.
“Federal Law is specific, and says that refugees, asylees, humanitarian parolees, and other vulnerable legal immigrants are eligible for SNAP benefits as soon as they obtain their green cards and meet standard program requirements,” said Campbell.
The AGs worry that this kind of incorrect guidance can cause widespread confusion among families in need, increase the risk of wrongful benefit terminations, and even diminish public trust. The AGs are asking the court to vacate the unlawful guidance and block its implementation to guarantee that families don’t lose important food assistance.
“I'm absolutely frustrated and angry that the Trump Administration has chosen again, to play political games with our residents' lives, because in many communities, this truly is about life and death,” said Campbell.
Other State AGs joining Campbell include California, Delaware, Maine, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, and Nevada, among others.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Brooke McCarthy (@BrookeWBZ) has more.