Immigrants are skipping the opportunity to collect food stamps in growing numbers, the Washington Post reports.
Their worry is if they sign up, they'll be easier to identify and it may affect their residency.
It coincides with a new White House administration that has promised to tighten immigration and crack down on violators.
“Their fear, advocates say, is that participation could draw the eye of Immigration and Customs Enforcement or hurt their chances of attaining citizenship,” according to the Post report. “Without federal nutrition benefits, many are resorting to food pantries and soup kitchens to feed themselves and their children.
Food assistance programs like SNAP are multibillion-dollar aid programs that critics say are ripe for abuse by illegals.
U.S. food banks and hunger advocates see a decline in the number of immigrants applying for food stamps.
In Texas, 55 percent of immigrant households, legal and illegal, receive government food assistance.
The Post report can be found here:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/03/16/immigrants-are-now-canceling-their-food-stamps-for-fear-that-trump-will-deport-them/?utm_term=.8ef3019f5599&wpisrc=nl_evening&wpmm=1