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Advocates Push for $244M Migrant Food Fund & SNAP Hike
Coalition urges New York governor to address federal budget cuts that threaten food security for hundreds of thousands
Jan. 28, 2026 at 5:31pm
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A coalition of lawmakers and anti-hunger groups in New York are urging Governor Kathy Hochul to allocate hundreds of millions of dollars to address federal budget cuts that they say will leave many New Yorkers hungry. The group is proposing a range of measures, including increasing the minimum monthly SNAP benefit, providing safer debit cards to prevent theft, and creating a new food assistance program for non-citizens.
Why it matters
The proposed changes would help address the threat of over 300,000 New Yorkers losing SNAP access due to new federal rules, as well as the loss of half the federal funding that states use to run their food assistance programs. This would have a significant impact on food security for vulnerable populations in New York.
The details
The coalition's budget asks include $244 million for a state-funded food benefit for non-citizen households who can't receive federal SNAP dollars, $100 million to increase the minimum monthly SNAP benefit to $100, funding for new chip-enabled SNAP debit cards to prevent theft, and money for programs that connect New Yorkers to SNAP and provide food to pantries and farmers.
- The federal budget reconciliation bill, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, recently made legal refugees and asylees ineligible for SNAP.
- Since 2023, over 150,000 families in New York have reported their electronic SNAP benefits stolen, often due to skimming devices on card readers.
The players
Kathy Hochul
The Governor of New York who the coalition is urging to allocate more funding for food security programs.
Matt Slater
A Republican Assemblymember who attended the rally to show bipartisan support for addressing hunger issues.
Maritza Davila
A Democratic Assemblymember who linked poverty and high food costs to crime.
Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas
A Democratic Assemblymember who spoke about the impact of federal budget cuts on legal immigrants and asylum seekers.
What they’re saying
“These are the most vulnerable people. These are refugees, asylum seekers, survivors of violence who are immigrants here, who have legal status and were part of the SNAP program. Those folks have been cut.”
— Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Assemblymember
“What can you get for 23 dollars a month these days? Absolutely nothing.”
— Matt Slater, Assemblymember
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.
