AAFB

Angie Rodgers, president/CEO of Arizona Association of Food Banks

A coalition of aid agencies in Arizona are worried about what they call an anti-immigration proposal from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

DHS wants to make immigrants trying to come to the U.S. legally inadmissible to the country if they are likely to need government aid.

The proposed new rule would prevent immigrants and those currently requesting a change in status or visa from seeking public assistance such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Plan, or SNAP.

But Angie Rodgers with the Association of Arizona Food Banks said cutting legal immigrants off would be a disaster.

“We need to be working towards [sic] solutions to end hunger, not creating more challenges for families struggling to put food on the table,” Rodgers said. “Receiving SNAP should not cost Arizonans their path to legal, permanent residency.”

Rodgers added the change could lead to malnutrition in children.

The public comment period on the DHS proposal ends Dec. 10.