The Mexican government has been working with the United States
Department of Agriculture to increase participation in the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps.
USDA has an agreement with Mexico to promote American food assistance
programs, including food stamps, among Mexican Americans, Mexican
nationals and migrant communities in America.
“USDA and the government of Mexico have entered into a partnership to
help educate eligible Mexican nationals living in the United States
about available nutrition assistance,” the USDA explains in a brief
paragraph on their “Reaching Low-Income Hispanics With Nutrition Assistance”
web page. “Mexico will help disseminate this information through its
embassy and network of approximately 50 consular offices.”
The partnership — which was signed
by former USDA Secretary Ann M. Veneman and Mexican Secretary of
Foreign Affairs Luis Ernesto Derbez Bautista in 2004 — sees to it that
the Mexican Embassy and Mexican consulates in America provide USDA
nutrition assistance program information to Mexican Americans, Mexican
nationals working in America and migrant communities in America. The
information is specifically focused on eligibility criteria and access.
The goal, for USDA, is to get rid of what they see as enrollment
obstacles and increase access among potentially eligible populations by
working with arms of the Mexican government in America. Benefits are not
guaranteed or provided under the program — the purpose is outreach and
education.
Some of the materials
the USDA encourages the Mexican government to use to educate and
promote the benefit programs are available free online for order and
download. A partial list of materials include English and Spanish
brochures titled “Five Easy Steps To Snap Benefits,” “How To Get Food
Help — A Consumer’s Guide to FNCS Programs,” “Ending Hunger Improving
Nutrition Combating Obesity,” and posters with slogans like “Food Stamps
Make America Stronger.”
When asked for details and to elaborate on the program, USDA stressed
it was established in 2004 and not meant for illegal immigrants.
No comments:
Post a Comment