Washington State’s decision to end funding for food stamps for legal immigrants has prompted a class action lawsuit claiming the move was unconstitutional.

 

Effective February 1, the state government will cease all funding for its Food Assistance Program for Legal Immigrants, saving the budget about $7 million.

 

But “saving money is not adequate justification to discriminate against plaintiff and class members,” said lead plaintiff Monica Navarro Pimentel, as part of the litigation that argues the state has violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment since U.S. citizens are allowed food stamps in Washington.

 

The budget cut affects more than 10,000 legal immigrants who were receiving assistance under the terminated program.

 

Food Assistance Program for Legal Immigrants was established in 1997 in response to the federal government’s decision to end food-stamp eligibility for most legal immigrants.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Legal Immigrants Sue State for Food Stamps (by June Williams, Courthouse News Service)

Monica Navarro Pimentel v. Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (U.S. District Court) (pdf)