The Act Establishing Basic Needs Assistance for Massachusetts Immigrant Residents (S.117/H.207) and would restore state-funded SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) for legally present immigrants living in Massachusetts.  Many legally present immigrants, often with pending asylum cases, DACA/Dreamers, and victims of violence who have lived in the state for years, are not eligible for federal SNAP.

Currently, 1 in 6 Massachusetts residents are immigrants, roughly 17%, are foreign-born. Many legally present immigrants make up the backbone in our economy. Massachusetts legally present immigrants are our neighbors who work in schools, restaurants, farms, fishing, stores, and people we engage with in faith communities.  

A mother of five children in New Bedford shared this story with The Southcoast Food Policy Council. "My youth was a bit painful, and when I was a young immigrant, I became a mother for the first time when I was 15 years old. By the time I was 19, I had four children. I could not provide financially for them and had to depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which was a blessing, but at the same time, it was not enough. I also depended on going to church pantries for food. I appreciated SNAP because feeding minors is essential for growth. Now, all of my children have finished high school and are professionals. I would not have achieved this if I had not had the support of SNAP. Investing in food is one of the most valuable humanitarian weapons we have to help families."

From 1997 to 2002, the Commonwealth provided state-funded SNAP, TAFDC, and EAEDC to immigrants. In 2023, state-funded SNAP was enacted, including $6M in SNAP funding for legally present immigrants, but the funding ended in April 2024, cutting off benefits to more than 5,000 families. No funding was included in the 2025 State Budget. We call upon our community and legislators to support our neighbors with basic nutrition assistance.

Contact your State Representative and Senator to urge them to support (S.117/H.207) An Act Establishing Basic Needs Assistance for Massachusetts Immigrant Residents!

To call or email your state legislators, fill out the short form on the right.

Thank you!

The Marion Institute's Southcoast Food Policy Council Team