Immigrants’ Use of U.S. SNAP Benefits Remains Low Despite Political Debate
Research data show that non-citizens account for a small fraction of food assistance recipients, challenging claims of widespread misuse of federal resources.
Recent data from research institutions highlight the extent to which immigrants benefit from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), amid a growing political debate over government spending on non-citizens and its impact on the national budget.
Although immigration is often a politically charged topic in the United States, recent studies indicate that immigrants use SNAP benefits at significantly lower rates than American citizens.
According to an analysis by the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), about 50% of poor U.S. households participated in SNAP in 2019, compared to just 47% of eligible immigrant households and 46% of mixed-status households. These findings suggest that participation rates among foreign-born families remain lower, despite the common perception that immigrants are the main beneficiaries.
Julia Gelatt: “Non-Citizens Use SNAP at Lower Rates Than U.S. Citizens”
Julia Gelatt, Deputy Director of Immigration Policy at MPI, explained that “evidence over many years clearly shows that non-citizens use SNAP at lower rates than citizens.” Her statement aligns with numerous studies conducted in previous years.
Newsweek cited an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute Center (EPIC), which found that approximately 1.764 million non-citizens received SNAP benefits during the 2023 fiscal year, at a total cost of $5.7 billion, based on data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Some analysts argued that the figure was substantial relative to taxpayer funding, while others countered that it failed to capture the full picture — noting that undocumented immigrants are ineligible for such benefits.
Gelatt emphasized that “none of the SNAP beneficiaries are undocumented immigrants,” clarifying that asylum seekers, temporary residents who pay taxes, and individuals under certain humanitarian protection programs are generally ineligible for food assistance — except for the children of some families.
USDA: 41.7 Million Americans Receive SNAP Benefits Monthly in 2024
In 2024, the USDA reported that an average of 41.7 million people received SNAP benefits each month, with total annual expenditures reaching approximately $99.8 billion — averaging $187.20 per person monthly. The program is federally funded but administered and distributed by individual states.
A separate study by the Cato Institute found that non-citizens made up about 4% of all SNAP beneficiaries in 2022, even though they represented 6.5% of the total U.S. population. Cato’s data further show that non-citizens cost the government around $310 per person annually through aid programs, compared to $435 for citizens — largely due to demographic factors such as younger age groups, smaller household sizes, and higher workforce participation.
According to the USDA, non-citizens eligible for SNAP include lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylum seekers, and those under deportation deferral programs. Despite continued political disputes over the scale of government spending, research data consistently indicate that non-citizens represent a limited share of food assistance beneficiaries.
