FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Courtney Shojinaga, 213-204-3614, courtney@nourishca.org
Edward Sifuentes, 760-936-2632, esifuentes@caimmigrant.org
Los Angeles – On Friday, January 9, Gov. Gavin Newsom released his January budget proposal for fiscal year 2026-27. The proposed budget maintains the planned expansion of the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to all income-eligible Californians, ages 55 years or older, regardless of their immigration status.
The Food4All coalition appreciates seeing a continued commitment to providing food benefits to Californians ages 55 and older, regardless of immigration status. However, advocates also expressed caution and concern that the governor’s proposed budget still does not include people under 55 years old. The proposed budget also fails to mitigate the harm brought on by the federal budget bill, H.R. 1, toward humanitarian immigrants, who will soon lose CalFresh benefits due to this new federal law.
In response to the governor’s announcement, members of the Food4All coalition issued the following statements:
Benyamin Chao, Health & Public Benefits Policy Manager at California Immigrant Policy Center:
“While the Trump administration cuts access to CalFresh, California should be stepping up to protect immigrant families’ access to food. Many of these families who will lose CalFresh fled violence and instability to rebuild their lives here, and are contributing to our communities and our economy. This inaction runs counter to our values as a just and welcoming state that cares about the well-being of all its residents. No one should experience hunger in our state, regardless of their immigration status.”
Jackie Mendelson, Policy Advocate at Nourish California:
“In his last year in office, Governor Newsom can make food access for all Californians his legacy. We call on our state’s leaders to not only protect the historic commitment to providing food benefits to Californians ages 55 and older, but also build a California for all. Food4All means that neither age nor immigration status should prevent Californians from accessing the food they need. Amidst hateful attacks from the Trump administration, we cannot follow their lead in upholding exclusions to food benefits for humanitarian immigrants. We must forge a new path and send a clear message that not only are immigrants welcome in California, but we want them to thrive.”
Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez, 43rd AD:
“Ensuring food access is fundamental for the health and productivity of our state. It is also morally imperative that we step in when the federal government continues to seek to harm our families. The Governor's proposed budget maintains a critical commitment for Californians aged 55 and above to access the California Food Assistance Program. However, budget cuts to the Supplemental Food Assistance Program will have real and immediate consequences for thousands of humanitarian immigrants who rely on this support. No one in our state should go hungry. We must continue finding solutions to mitigate the harm H.R. 1 will cause to our communities.”
Etleva Bejko, Executive Director at Survivors of Torture, International (San Diego):
“California is a world leader across many industries and sectors, including the preservation and protection of human rights. Food4All plays a critical role in filling gaps in the food system and ensuring access to nutritious food for every resident across the state, especially our most vulnerable populations, who share the same dreams as all Californians: to thrive and prosper. Survivors of torture and severe trauma from around the world require food security as a foundation for rebuilding lives of safety and stability, enabling them to become contributing members of local communities and local economies. Investing in food security is more than meeting a basic human right; it is essential to sustaining a productive, resilient, and successful California economy.”
The federal passage of H.R. 1, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” in July 2025 requires states to deny Supplemental Food Assistance Program (SNAP) assistance to refugees, asylees, and other humanitarian immigrants. In October 2025, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) estimated that 74,000 CalFresh recipients would lose their monthly food assistance as a result of this change to SNAP eligibility rules. This new requirement will become effective in California on April 1, 2026, according to the latest policy guidance from the Department. Despite the urging by advocates to mitigate the harm of these exclusions, humanitarian immigrants impacted by H.R. 1 would not become eligible for CFAP under current state law.
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The Food4All coalition is a diverse, robust coalition of more than 100 anti-hunger, anti-poverty, immigrant rights, and grassroots organizations that are working together to bring an equitable food safety net that does not discriminate based on immigration status.
Founded in 1992 and operating for over a quarter century as California Food Policy Advocates, Nourish California is a nonpartisan, statewide 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. We engage in policy advocacy and research at the local, regional, and state levels in California and at the federal level. When our small team isn’t out meeting with communities, partners, and policymakers, we can be found in our offices in Oakland, Los Angeles (virtual), and San Diego (virtual).
The California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) is a statewide immigrant rights organization that advocates for policies that protect and advance the rights of immigrants and their families throughout California. CIPC combines legislative and policy advocacy, strategic communications, statewide organizing, and regional coalition capacity building to pursue its mission of advocating for policies that uphold the humanity of immigrants and refugees while advancing racial, social, and economic justice.
