20 States Challenge USDA Data Demand Amid Deportation Fears

A coalition of 20 state attorneys general is suing the Trump administration over a demand for personal data of people in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The lawsuit fears the information could be used for deportation purposes, violating privacy laws. The USDA claims the data is needed to combat fraud.

In a significant legal battle, a group of 20 state attorneys general has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, opposing the demand for personal data from individuals enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The lawsuit, filed on Monday, voices concerns that the information could be used to facilitate mass deportations, challenging privacy laws.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had requested that states hand over sensitive data from SNAP participants as part of broader efforts claimed to tackle fraud and abuse within the program. However, state attorneys argue that the demand for information, including immigration status and home addresses, threatens recipients' privacy, with potential ulterior motives linked to immigration enforcement.

This demand adds to previous actions directed by the Trump administration to collect personal data from various state programs, raising alarms among immigration and data privacy advocates. While the USDA asserts that the data retrieval aims to maintain program integrity, critics remain unconvinced, citing concerns over misuse of information.

(With inputs from agencies.)