Ending SNAP Eligibility for Refugees and Humanitarian Entrants: Food Access and Health Implications

In 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) eliminated Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility for refugees and other humanitarian entrants in the United States. This policy change occurs within a broader restrictive immigration environment and affects a population that experiences disproportionately high rates of food insecurity, compounded by structural, economic, and social barriers during resettlement. The policy may also affect immigrants who remain eligible for SNAP, as fears surrounding the immigration consequences of public benefit use may exacerbate 'chilling effects' that discourage SNAP participation. The consequences of the OBBB eligibility change are likely to extend beyond food purchasing support alone, with implications for food insecurity, health outcomes, health care utilization and costs, and long-term immigrant integration. We outline and qualitatively assess five federal and state policy options across dimensions of equity and near-term feasibility and highlight community-level mitigation strategies to support immediate needs. Sustaining access to nutrition assistance during resettlement remains central to protecting health, promoting equitable integration, reducing longer-term strain on health systems and public resources, and upholding humanitarian commitments.