Feds: Georgia must process food stamps for Syrian refugees

ATLANTA (AP) Federal officials are ordering Georgia to process food stamp applications for Syrian refugees.

Jessica Shahin, associate administrator of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, sent a letter Wednesday to Bobby Cagle, director of the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, which administers the food stamp program in the state.

Gov. Nathan Deal last week issued an order directing state agency heads to prevent the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the state.

Subsequently, the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Human Services sent a memo to agency staff instructing them not to take or process new applications for any benefit assistance for Syrian refugees. The Division of Family and Children Services is part of the Department of Human Services.

Shahin wrote that refusing applications because of national origin violates federal law. 

Gov. Nathan Deal has ordered state agency heads to block resettlement efforts for Syrian refugees, but federal officials have now ordered the state to process food stamp applications for the refugees.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/11/352441/feds-georgia-must-process-food-stamps-for-syrian-refugees