The Department of Homeland Security has initiated a nationwide operation through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest individuals accused of fraudulently obtaining benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Fox News reported that the agency confirmed the launch of the effort, which has already resulted in multiple arrests of people living in the United States without legal authorization. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that those using welfare programs while illegally present are the last people who should be accessing such benefits, asserting that these programs are intended exclusively for Americans. He noted that even non-violent crimes involving fraud can have severe consequences for taxpayers. DHS identified several individuals arrested as part of this initial phase, including multiple Haitian nationals and one Cuban national. Rubstony Junior Theodore, a Haitian national, was arrested by ICE and has a prior criminal history that includes arrests for larceny, obstruction of officers, and trespassing. Three other Haitian nationals, Wilbert Jean Baptiste, Louis Jean, and Jhensly Charles, were also taken into custody according to the department. Elizabeth Povea Rodriguez, a Cuban national with previous convictions for disorderly conduct and arrests for battery and domestic violence allegations, was likewise arrested. DHS described these arrests as the beginning of a sustained, large-scale operation specifically targeting those who have fraudulently accessed SNAP benefits. The agency emphasized that every individual involved entered the country unlawfully before drawing from a program designed to support American families, sometimes while carrying criminal records. Federal law generally prohibits immigrants living in the country illegally from receiving SNAP benefits, though certain lawfully present noncitizens may qualify. The Trump administration said it will continue targeting alleged SNAP fraud as part of a broader crackdown on the misuse of federal benefits.