Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed a multi-state lawsuit against the USDA, joining 21 other attorneys general in challenging federal guidance they argue improperly restricts access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for thousands of legal immigrants. According to a press release from the Michigan government, the lawsuit seeks to ensure that asylum recipients, refugees, and other vulnerable groups are not wrongly classified as ineligible for food assistance under the updated federal guidelines.
Issued on October 31, the USDA’s guidance outlines eligibility changes under the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” according to a press release. The update immediately placed certain non-citizen groups at risk of losing access to SNAP benefits, even if they had obtained green cards and met the established requirements. Nessel and the coalition urged the administration last week to clarify or withdraw the memo, but the USDA has not yet responded.
In a press release, The dispute centers on the USDA’s interpretation of the law, which the attorneys general say conflicts with the “One Big Beautiful Bill” as well as other federal laws and regulations. As noted in the Michigan government’s news release, existing statutes clearly provide eligibility for refugees, asylees, and other legal immigrants once they receive their green cards. The USDA memo, however, reflects a different interpretation and raises concerns that it could limit food assistance for individuals who remain eligible under federal law.
The USDA’s guidance also introduced a tight compliance timeline, asserting that states had only one day to implement the changes, which could result in significant financial consequences. The coalition contends that this interpretation of the agency’s regulatory grace period is inaccurate and practically impossible to meet. The guidance places states in a difficult position, where attempting to follow federal directives could inadvertently expose them to financial penalties.
The coalition supporting Nessel includes attorneys general from across the country, representing states such as California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai'i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. The group is working together to seek an immediate halt to the USDA’s guidance, aiming to ensure that affected families continue to receive the food assistance for which they are eligible.
