A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture must give states more time to implement new restrictions on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits tied to immigration status. U.S. District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai on Monday granted an injunction extending the compliance deadline from Nov. 1 to April 9, finding that the USDA’s guidance had created confusion and potential financial strain for state governments. The lawsuit was brought by 21 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia, which argued that USDA instructions improperly excluded lawful permanent residents, including asylees and refugees, from eligibility. The USDA had maintained that the original grace period had expired and any misunderstanding was due to misinterpretation by states. Kasubhai disagreed, saying the approach was inconsistent with legal precedent and likely to cause harm. The new restrictions stem from a law signed this year that tightens SNAP eligibility based on immigration criteria.
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