In huge news announced via a press release and a letter, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it has taken action to ensure that illegal immigrants don’t receive food stamps, a critical change meant to make America less welcoming to illegal immigrants and ensure that taxpayer money isn’t used to support illegal immigration.
As a reminder, President Donald Trump, in an order titled “ENDING TAXPAYER SUBSIDIZATION OF OPEN BORDERS,” said that changes were being made to ensure the government works to “protect the interests of American citizens, not illegal aliens.” The order forces all federal departments to ensure no money goes to illegal immigrants, whether bringing them here or keeping them here.
In the press release, the USDA announced that it had taken action to ensure only those in the US legally are able to access food stamps, saying, “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins today directed the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to immediately clarify and enforce all rules restricting its beneficiaries to U.S. citizens and legal residents only.”
It then noted in that press release that the decision to change the standards and ensure the program is kept for Americans only follows the Trump executive order. He said, “This Secretarial directive enforces President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order of February 19th, 2025, ensuring taxpayer resources are not used to incentivize or support illegal immigration.”
Commenting on the new policy in the press release, USDA Secretary Rollins said, “The days in which taxpayer dollars are used to subsidize illegal immigration are over.” Continuing, she added that the USDA will ensure it totally follows Trump’s directive, saying, “Today’s directive affirms that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will follow the law—full stop.”
In an attached letter, Secretary Rollins said, “The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture plays an important role in providing nutrition services to vulnerable populations in the interest of our Nation. Program eligibility rules are determined by Congress. In 1996, Congress passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA, P.L. 104-193) that generally prohibits illegal aliens from receiving Federal benefits, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.”
She continued, “With its enactment, illegal aliens in the United States should not depend on taxpayer dollars to take care of their needs. President Trump’s Executive Order reaffirms this important national policy-and puts the needs of Americans first. It is essential to use all available legal authority to end any incentives in FNS benefit programs that encourage illegal immigration. The President has made clear the status quo is not acceptable.”
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She further added, “Recently, I directed senior staff at FNS to review the public benefit programs it administers at the Federal level to ensure alignment with the President’s Executive Order. Following that review, FNS will implement necessary changes so all its programs are consistent with Federal law, including PRWORA.”
The secretary then said, noting that messaging will change as well as policies, “FNS will also work to revise public messaging so that information about program eligibility is accurate and does not encourage illegal aliens to use public benefit programs. Furthermore, FNS will take measures to improve eligibility verification and deter fraud.”
She also revealed that the policy change will including changing USDA policies to ensure no help is given to sanctuary jurisdictions, writing, “Additionally, in accordance with the President’s Executive Order, FNS will identify and effectuate measures consistent with law to prevent Federal resources from being used to support “sanctuary” policies of State and local jurisdictions that protect illegal aliens from deportation.”
Watch Democrats demand benefits for illegal immigrants here: