By Liz Nass
Gongwer News Service
Attorney General Dana Nessel secured a preliminary injunction to block personal data for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program users from being shared.
Nessel joined a lawsuit against President Donald Trump seeking a temporary restraining order on the administration asking states to turn over personal information on those who receive this assistance.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled in favor of the states, blocking demands from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“By trying to illegally seize the personal data of more than a million Michigan residents, the Trump Administration attempted to force families into choosing between protecting their personal identifying information that may be shared for any purpose and eating,” Nessel said in a statement. “I am relieved the Court recognized the danger this posed, and I will continue to fight to ensure Michigan families never have to sacrifice their privacy to put food on the table.”
The lawsuit argued that the information, which would include Social Security numbers, recent locations and immigration status since 2020, may be shared across federal agencies and “used for immigration enforcement,” which the states say is a violation of the law.
Non-citizens are not eligible for SNAP benefits, but federal law allows non-citizens to apply for their children.
The demands from the USDA were accompanied by a threat of potentially cutting SNAP funds if the states refuse to comply. Michigan received $254 million in SNAP benefits per month with an average of 1.4 million recipients.
Federal and state laws only allow providing data under narrow circumstances, according to the lawsuit.
Gongwer News Service
Attorney General Dana Nessel secured a preliminary injunction to block personal data for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program users from being shared.
Nessel joined a lawsuit against President Donald Trump seeking a temporary restraining order on the administration asking states to turn over personal information on those who receive this assistance.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled in favor of the states, blocking demands from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“By trying to illegally seize the personal data of more than a million Michigan residents, the Trump Administration attempted to force families into choosing between protecting their personal identifying information that may be shared for any purpose and eating,” Nessel said in a statement. “I am relieved the Court recognized the danger this posed, and I will continue to fight to ensure Michigan families never have to sacrifice their privacy to put food on the table.”
The lawsuit argued that the information, which would include Social Security numbers, recent locations and immigration status since 2020, may be shared across federal agencies and “used for immigration enforcement,” which the states say is a violation of the law.
Non-citizens are not eligible for SNAP benefits, but federal law allows non-citizens to apply for their children.
The demands from the USDA were accompanied by a threat of potentially cutting SNAP funds if the states refuse to comply. Michigan received $254 million in SNAP benefits per month with an average of 1.4 million recipients.
Federal and state laws only allow providing data under narrow circumstances, according to the lawsuit.
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