Challenges of Refugees in Nebraska: SNAP Benefits Under Scrutiny
As the 2026 legislative session concludes, state senators in Nebraska have examined over 750 proposals during the last 60 legislative days. However, several bills remain untouched, including one aimed at reinstating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for refugees such as Nyachan Wandong.
Wandong, along with her four children, is relatively new to Lincoln, having settled there a little over a year ago. Like many refugees, their journey to the United States from South Sudan was arduous, spanning 11 years. During this period, Wandong experienced the loss of her husband.
Through her translator, Sebit Deng, Wandong shared that their initial months in Nebraska were promising.
“When we came here, we had quite a good welcome,” Deng translated for Wandong. “We got cash assistance. We got help. We got food stamps. Everything went well until the food stamps were cut. Not only for us but [for] most of the families we know.”
In November, changes to the SNAP program left Wandong’s family ineligible for food stamps, a result of the Big Beautiful Bill enacted by Republican lawmakers the previous summer. According to Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services, these changes might affect approximately 6,300 immigrants within the state. For more information, visit the Nebraska Public Media’s report.
“The situation was overwhelming to all of us, when the food stamps were cut off,” Wandong said. “I have a full-time job, but we are barely, barely making it because there are many bills I have to pay. It’s difficult to manage.”
Deng further explained that Wandong commutes on foot to her job at a University of Nebraska-Lincoln cafeteria due to the absence of a vehicle. This lack of transportation complicates the possibility of securing additional employment. Meanwhile, Wandong constantly juggles between paying bills, rent, and purchasing food.
“So now it’s just – okay, let me postpone this; let me eat now; and pay for this now; and I stress if the lights will be turned off,” Wandong said. “If the food stamps came back, I could use the money for the food to pay the bill.”
Wandong’s situation reflects the broader challenges faced by refugees in the United States. According to Catholic Social Services, it generally takes two to three years for immigrants to acclimate, learn the language, save money, and establish a stable life, after which they typically transition off programs like SNAP.
