Refugees and aid groups in Tucson worry about upcoming cuts to SNAP benefits

Refugees and aid groups in Tucson say they’re worried about upcoming cuts to food assistance programs and other federal support.

The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — or SNAP — provides food stamps and other assistance to low-income families. Eligibility for those benefits is being reevaluated across the board under the massive spending bill crafted by GOP lawmakers. Benefits for refugees could massively scale back or be eliminated starting next month.

Somaya Ahmad, a refugee from Somalia who lives in Tucson, told Pima County supervisors that SNAP was a vital part of settling in the U.S.

“SNAP made sure there was food on the table when we were learning how to navigate life … here. It gave us the ability and dignity. It allowed us to focus on getting jobs and going to school and building new lives here,” she said.

Ahmad said the possibility of cuts is causing anxiety for refugee families in Tucson. She spoke during a hearing Tuesday at the Pima County Board of Supervisors about local impacts of the spending bill.

Refugees and aid groups in Tucson say they’re worried about changes to the SNAP program, which provides food stamps and other assistance to low-income families.

Laurie Kierstead-Joseph, assistant vice chancellor of adult basic education at Pima Community College, said some 500 refugees enroll in English classes there every year.

“They are all typically working some sort of job while typing to attend with us as well and we are concerned that the loss of benefits is going to make enrollment in our program an improvement of their English so they can get family sustaining jobs all that much harder,” she said.

The cuts could impact recently-arrived refugees, asylees and other immigrants.