Not just Somalis: Feds charge that Yemeni, Hatian nationals stole millions in SNAP benefits
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has required state agencies to share state SNAP data to ensure that “illegal immigrants aren’t getting benefits meant for American families.”
By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor
Published: January 13, 2026 11:12pm
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It’s not just Somali nationals in Minnesota who’ve been charged in a widescale scheme to defraud taxpayer-funded federal welfare programs. Haitian and Yemeni immigrants have also been charged with stealing tens of millions of dollars from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the Biden administration.
SNAP is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state agencies. Recipients use EBT (electronic benefit transfer) cards to purchase qualifying SNAP food items.
U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, Republicans from Texas, argue foreign nationals who defraud the federal government should face consequences, including revoking potential citizenship privileges and deportation, The Center Square reported.
If their bill becomes law, it could apply to two Haitians who owned Boston-area bodegas charged in a $7 million SNAP fraud scheme, among many others.
https://justthenews.com/fed-charges-yemeni-hatian-nationals-stole-millions-snap-benefits
