Democrat Rep. Jayapal Sparks Backlash After Saying Illegal Immigrants Avoid Food Banks
'Yesterday I was at a food bank in my district talking about the SNAP cuts, the horrible SNAP cuts and Medicaid cuts, and they told me that people are not even showing up to Head Start where they get their food,' Jayapal said during a podcast appearance on the MeidasTouch Network.
But she didn't stop there.
'They're not showing up to the food banks because they're afraid — and it's not just undocumented immigrants, it is. People of all legal statuses. It's undocumented immigrants who have been here for 20 years,' she added, stumbling through the remark — a comment critics said appeared to contradict her party's narrative.
Online critics quickly seized on the remark as confirmation of something Democrats have long denied: that illegal aliens are receiving taxpayer-funded benefits, including food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — a program Jayapal passionately supports.
Federal law prohibits illegal aliens from directly receiving SNAP benefits. However, in mixed-status households — where children born in the U.S. are citizens but their parents are undocumented — benefits can legally support the household, indirectly aiding the adults as well.
Democratic leaders continue to insist that SNAP benefits are limited to those who qualify under federal law. But Jayapal's unscripted admission has cast fresh doubt on those claims.
For many Americans, especially during a rising national debt and concerns over the influx of illegal immigration, the idea that benefits may be quietly extended to non-citizens, many of whom do not pay federal income taxes, is deeply troubling.
This isn't the first time Jayapal has found herself under fire this month.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials pushed back after Jayapal referred to the agency as a 'terrorist force' in a July 1 Instagram post — sparking widespread backlash.
In a separate interview with CNN's Brianna Keilar, Jayapal doubled down, claiming that U.S. citizens were being detained by masked ICE agents without proper oversight — a claim ICE officials have called completely unfounded.
Acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons slammed the remarks as 'reckless' and 'dangerous,' noting a 700% rise in assaults on ICE officers, which he added is only worsened by Jayapal's negative remarks. Not only that, Lyons also highlighted how Jayapal's response came after a genuine terrorist attack on the ICE processing center in her own state.
'An actual Antifa terrorist tried to blow up ICE's Northwest Processing Center in Rep. Jayapal's home state of Washington in 2019. At the time, she tried to blame the violent attack on rhetoric from the right, in defense of an actual terrorist who tried to murder detainees and employees alike!' Lyons said in a statement published two days after Jayapal's post referring to ICE as terrorists.
'Now, she labels ICE officers enforcing immigration law set by Congress 'terrorists.' This, at a time when officers are facing a nearly 700% increase in assaults, in part due to the type of rhetoric she spews,' Lyons added.
Voters in Washington may want to ask whether Jayapal is more interested in representing her district — or booking interviews to make provocative statements. Either way, Jayapal's recent comments have added fuel to an already heated national debate over immigration, enforcement, and entitlement programs.
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Taiwan says trade delegation in Washington for talks on potential tariff and trade deal
TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan's government said on Wednesday that a trade delegation led by the vice premier was in Washington, D.C., for a new round of in-person negotiations with U.S. officials this week. U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed imposing tariffs of as much as 32% on Taiwan. No new tariffs have yet been announced for the democratically-governed island, although the 90-day pause on worldwide tariffs Trump proposed in April has already expired. The delegation, led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chun, seeks to safeguard Taiwan's industrial interests, public health, and food security, according to a cabinet statement. The talks aim to promote balanced trade, and improve the overall economic and trade framework between the two sides, it added. "The team will continue working under the principles of protecting Taiwan's industries and public welfare,' the statement said. 'We hope to optimise the trade system and lay the groundwork for a stronger partnership in the future.' The Taiwan talks come as trade negotiations in the region accelerate. On Wednesday, the United States and Japan announced a trade agreement that includes a 15% U.S. import tariff on all Japanese goods, lower than the 25% Washington had proposed previously. The Japan deal is seen as one of the most significant among several agreements reached ahead of the August 1 tariff deadline the White House set after the original 90-day deadline expired with only a few successfully negotiated agreements. Taiwan has been seeking to strengthen its trade ties with major partners, particularly the U.S., Taiwan's second-largest trading partner after China, amid growing geopolitical and economic challenges. The outcome of the negotiations could play a key role in shaping the island's future trade strategy and its position in the global supply chain, and is crucial to Taiwan's export-driven economy.
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Independent Frederic Voss launches write-in campaign for Hornell mayor. Why he's running
An independent candidate has announced a write-in bid to be the next mayor of Hornell. Reynolds Avenue resident Frederic W. Voss said in a July 19 statement that he is running as an independent write-in candidate for Hornell mayor "because I believe leadership should be earned not handed out in back rooms." Voss said he has begun meeting with business owners, union leaders, and community members "who want something better for Hornell." Voss is the second person to announce a 2025 mayoral run after Republican Mayor John Buckley launched a bid for a third term at a January rally at Union Square Park. Buckley defeated independent candidate John Lewis in 2017 and was reelected in 2021 with around 65% of the vote running against Democrat Rich Argentieri. Voss was raised in Canisteo and attended Hornell High School. With a background in business, computer science and serving in the military in the 1990s, Voss said he's "worn many hats" − including SCUBA instructor in Central America during the pandemic and wilderness survival, bushcraft and primitive skills instructor-in-training domestically. He put that on pause this year to focus on his mayoral campaign, Voss said. He returned to Hornell to be closer to his family and now works in residential contracting and home repair, Voss said. In his campaign introduction, Voss said current city leaders have focused on appearance over substance, and political preservation over service. In a series of Facebook posts on his campaign page, Voss criticized how the city spent a $10 million state DRI award, saying it prioritized cosmetic improvements over foundational change, and he called the city's decision to opt out of marijuana dispensaries shortsighted and dictatorial. "Decisions are made behind closed doors. Economic development is a buzzword, not a plan," Voss said. "Our young people lack opportunity, our adults lack venues, and our small businesses are being crushed under the weight of minimum order requirements and regulatory roadblocks." More: How new Plant 4 is impacting Hornell workforce, Alstom's pursuit of rail contracts Voss said he is introducing a "platform that doesn't just criticize, it builds." Voss said one of his cornerstone initiatives is his proposal for a H.O.R.N.E.L.L. Cooperative Network (Helping Our Retailers Navigate Economic Logistics Locally). Voss said the program would allow the city to act as a bulk buyer and warehousing partner for small businesses, helping them "survive and thrive" against corporate competition. "It's bold, it's doable, and it's designed with Hornell in mind," he said. More: When 'CBS Mornings' segment on Hornell dessert chef Chris Lomax is airing: How to watch In addition to the office of mayor, all ten seats on the Hornell Common Council are up for election this year. The 2025 General Election is Nov. 4. Email Neal Simon at nsimon@ To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Frederic Voss announces write-in campaign for Hornell mayor Solve the daily Crossword

Washington Post
21 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Why you probably don't live in a competitive congressional district
Good morning, Early Birds. Does anyone know what's happening Sept. 19? We would like to know! Send tips to earlytips@ Thanks for waking up with us. In today's edition … Why you probably don't live in a competitive House district … Trump treks to Scotland … but first …