Which states have higher rates of noncitizen SNAP recipients?
Executive summary
State-level data show that non‑citizens are a small share of SNAP recipients nationally, and available federal reporting and fact‑checks emphasize that most SNAP beneficiaries are U.S. citizens (about 89% U.S.-born in USDA reporting cited by media) [1] [2]. Detailed state breakdowns exist in CBPP state fact sheets and USDA SNAP data tables, which reporters and advocates use to identify states with relatively higher shares of non‑citizen participants [3] [4].
1. What the national picture shows: non‑citizens are a minority of SNAP users
Multiple fact‑checks and reporting draw the same conclusion: the vast majority of SNAP recipients are citizens — USDA data for 2023 indicate nearly 36 million of over 40 million SNAP recipients were U.S.-born citizens, and citizenship plus naturalized citizens account for roughly 95.6% of participants, leaving non‑citizens a small portion of the total [1] [2].
2. Where to find state‑by‑state differences: CBPP and USDA data are the primary sources
If you want to see which states have higher shares of non‑citizen SNAP recipients, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ state fact sheets compile state‑level SNAP participant characteristics and the USDA maintains SNAP data tables and program statistics that underlie such comparisons [3] [4]. Those are the authoritative, cited sources journalists and analysts rely on [3] [4].
3. Why some states show relatively higher shares of non‑citizen recipients
States with larger immigrant populations, including lawful permanent residents, refugees, or communities covered by Compact of Free Association agreements, tend to show larger absolute and proportional counts of non‑citizen SNAP participants; CBPP’s state fact sheets and USDA tables allow comparison across states to detect these patterns [3] [4]. Available sources do not provide a ranked list of states by non‑citizen share in the materials supplied here; consult the CBPP state fact sheets or USDA tables for specific state rankings [3] [4].
4. How recent policy changes affect the count and comparisons
Congress’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 and related FNS implementation guidance significantly narrowed immigrant eligibility for SNAP; that law, effective July 4, 2025, limits benefits to certain categories (for example, lawful permanent residents, some Cuban‑Haitian and COFA entrants) and changes default eligibility for many other lawfully present immigrants [5] [6]. The Food and Nutrition Service has issued memoranda explaining implementation; those changes will alter future state shares and complicate year‑over‑year comparisons [5] [7].
5. Data and interpretation pitfalls reporters should note
Viral charts and social posts have mischaracterized SNAP demographics in the past; PolitiFact and other outlets warn that graphics lacking context can mislead readers into thinking non‑citizens dominate SNAP rolls, which is contradicted by USDA data showing most recipients are white or citizens [2] [8]. Analysts must distinguish between households that include non‑citizen members and benefit recipients who themselves are eligible non‑citizens; USDA reporting shows only small percentages of households have citizen children living with non‑citizen adults [1].
6. Competing perspectives and political uses of the data
The USDA under the current administration has accused some states of noncompliance in data sharing and alleged fraud, and has threatened funding actions — a claim reported by CNBC — while USDA’s own fact sheets emphasize that the majority of benefits are used as intended [9]. Advocacy groups such as NILC frame the 2025 law as a harmful restriction on immigrant access to food aid and highlight confusing guidance that may reduce participation [10]. Both the USDA’s enforcement framing [9] and advocacy warnings [10] use state‑level participation figures to press political positions; readers should expect data to be invoked by advocates on both sides.
7. How to answer “which states have higher rates” right now
Available sources here point you to the actionable databases — CBPP’s state fact sheets and USDA SNAP data tables — as the places to extract a current ranking [3] [4]. The supplied excerpts do not themselves list states by non‑citizen SNAP share; to produce a definitive list, consult those datasets directly and note that post‑July 2025 legal changes will change the numbers reported going forward [3] [5].
Limitations: This piece relies on the supplied search results; the excerpts provided do not include a ready‑made, cited list of states ranked by non‑citizen SNAP participation. For precise, current state rankings, open CBPP’s state fact sheets and USDA SNAP data tables and compare the state fields for non‑citizen or immigrant participation and household characteristics [3] [4].