Can undocumented immigrants receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in the U.S.?
No.
Undocumented immigrants are generally ineligible for SNAP benefits.
Federal rule limits SNAP eligibility to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or “qualified aliens” with specified immigration statuses and often a five-year waiting period. A person without legal status cannot receive SNAP benefits, but households with mixed-status members may still qualify for eligible members. For example, an undocumented parent cannot get benefits for themselves, but their U.S. citizen child may be eligible (and the household may apply on behalf of the child). Some states have used state-only funds to provide food assistance to unauthorized immigrants, but this does not change federal SNAP eligibility. Those states include California, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Washington, but not North Dakota.
This fact brief is in response to online conversations such as this one.
Sources:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, “SNAP eligibility for non-citizens” (August 2025)
National Immigration Forum, Immigration & Public Benefits fact sheet
North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, SNAP eligibility page
Health and Human Services North Dakota, North Dakota SNAP policy manual, “502 Eligible Alien Status”
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