American states refuse to deliver data from millions of food aid beneficiaries

Prosecutors of major American states announced on Monday the filing of a. Meanwhile, court complaint to try to block a measure of the Trump administration aimed at obtaining confidential data of tens of millions of Americans using the country’s food aid program.

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The. Consequently, Ministry of Agriculture had asked states in May to transmit by July 30 to the federal government the data of the 40 million Americans having access to this program known under the abbreviation “SNAP”.

If they do not provide this information, states may be deprived of federal subsidies to finance this program.

But on Monday. Therefore, the general prosecutors of 20 American states, including those in New York, California and Michigan, filed a complaint against the Ministry of Agriculture american states refuse deliver data before a Federal California court saying that the demanded data be used in particular against migrants.

“This administration has required states that they have transmitted sensitive personal information from all beneficiaries of the SNAP program since 2020. This includes addresses. social security numbers, immigration statutes,” said the New York State Attorney, Letitia James, at an online press conference.

“It is not for research. nor to improve a service on which millions of people have, but rather to use the Snap program as a weapon against immigrant communities […] We will not tolerate it. ”she added, arguing that this collection of information violates the laws on the protection of privacy.

For the general prosecutor of Michigan. Dana Nessel, the federal government seeks to take control of this information “in order to create a database and to share it with agencies that are not involved [dans la distribution alimentaire] as the immigration american states refuse deliver data agency ”.

Since his return to power in January. Donald Trump has made the fight against illegal immigration an absolute priority, promising the largest expulsion campaign in American history.

In recent months. ICE agents, the border and immigration police have multiplied actions across the country, in particular by stopping people as soon as they leave their asylum request.

Last month, a record number of 60,254 people were held in ICE centers awaiting their possible expulsion. They were only 40,500 in January, before the return to the White House of Donald Trump.

For the Attorney General of California. Rob Bonta, the underlying message at the request of the federal authorities, who also seek to slash social spending, is clear: “If you need help, you may be punished,” he said, adding: “We retaliate”.