USDA Secretary Rollins Instructs Agency to Stop Illegal Immigrants From Getting Food Stamps

Rollins instructed the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) “to immediately clarify and enforce all rules restricting its beneficiaries to U.S. citizens and legal residents only,” a press release from the agency explained.

“The days in which taxpayer dollars are used to subsidize illegal immigration are over,” Rollins said in the Feb. 25 press release that accompanied a copy of the letter. “Today’s directive affirms that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will follow the law—full stop.”

Rollins referenced President Donald Trump’s Feb. 19 executive order that tasked all federal agencies to identify any federally funded programs that provide financial assistance to illegal immigrants and “take corrective actions” to ensure funds to states and localities “will not be used to support sanctuary policies or assist illegal immigration.”

In 1996, Congress passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, “which generally prohibits illegal aliens from receiving federal benefits, including SNAP benefits,” Rollins wrote in the letter, which was addressed to state, tribal, territorial, and local government partners.

“With its enactment, illegal aliens in the United States should not depend on taxpayer dollars to take care of their needs,” she wrote. “President Trump’s executive order re-affirms this important national policy—and puts the needs of Americans first.”

Related Stories

She listed a series of priorities, which included efforts to reduce fraud and abuse in SNAP and other programs; clarify statutory and regulatory requirements; improve customer service for program beneficiaries.

Rollins also outlined her goals of linking SNAP benefits to clear work expectations for those who are able, creating new opportunities to connect American farmers with nutrition assistance programs, and ensuring that federal dietary policy aligns with scientific evidence rather than political influence.

“We have a historic opportunity to improve nutrition programs to better serve individuals who need additional support,” Rollins added in the letter. “Our shared goal should be to lift millions of Americans out of dependency and into hopeful futures and unimagined possibilities.”

Rollins is expected to work with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on a number of issues. Kennedy was confirmed as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Feb. 13.

The USDA and HHS have a late 2025 deadline to complete the 2025–2030 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Kennedy has said he will focus on removing ultra-processed foods from school lunches, eliminating harmful chemicals from foods, and implementing other measures to address what he calls a “chronic disease epidemic” in the United States.

The former Democrat and independent presidential candidate has also pledged to ban candy, soda, and other “junk foods” from being eligible for purchase with food stamps under the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Chase Smith contributed to this report.