The Center for Refugee Services in San Antonio is reporting a crisis where refugee families are losing access to food stamps.. This occurs because federal delays in granting permanent residency leave many households ineligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
From 1,000 to 6,300: The Post-Afghanistan Surge at CRS
The scale of the humanitarian challenge in San Antonio has grown exponentially over the last few years. According to the source,the Center for Refugee Services (CRS) saw its active client roster jump from fewer than 1,000 individuals to more than 6,300 following the influx of refugees from Afghanistan in 2021. This surge has placed immense pressure on the organization's resource-allocation systems, as the volume of families requiring aid has far outpaced previous capacities.
This growth reflects a broader trend of urban centers becoming primary hubs for displaced populations, where the local infrastructure must suddenly absorb thousands of new residents.. For the Center for Refugee Services, this means managing a daily flow of 30 to 50 families who are struggling to navigate the transition to American life while facing systemic barriers to basic survival .
The 7.7-Month Gap in USCIS Processing
A critical bottleneck currently exists within the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). As the report says, the median processing time for refugee-based Form I-485 applications reached 7.7 months in fiscal year 2026. While a few months may seem minor in bureaucratic terms, this window creates a dangerous gap in survival resources for those living below the poverty line.
This delay is compounded by federal modifications enacted in 2025 that tightened SNAP eligibility for certain noncitizens. Because many refugees are not considered eligible for food assistance until they physically hold a green card, the processing lag effectively locks them out of the federal safety net. The result is a paradox where families are legally permitted to be in the country but are denied the nutrition assistance required to sustain their children during the waiting period.
How Mary Field Navigates Occupational Licensing and Food Gaps
Mary Field, the executive director of operations at the Center for Refugee Services, has had to implement a multipronged strategy to prevent total collapse for these families.. While the nonprofit operates its own food pantry and a referral network, Field acknowledges that these are merely stopgap measures that cannot replace the scale of federal SNAP benefits.
To move families toward long-term independence, the Center for Refugee Services provides critical support beyond food. This includes helping clients interpret complex occupational licensing requirements and providing language support to improve job prospects. by focusing on these professional hurdles, the organization aims to ensure that once residency is granted, refugees can immediately enter the workforce in fields like nursing, dentistry, and teaching.
Why the U.S. Government Denies Assistance to Children on Waiting Lists
Despite the efforts of local nonprofits, a significant policy contradiction remains unresolved. Mary Field has repeatedly questioned why the government denies basic nutrition assistance to children who are simply wiating for their parents' green cards to be processed. The source highlights that these children are often the most vulnerable, yet they are penalized by the slow pace of USCIS paperwork.
It remains unclear whether there are any existing federal mechanisms to expedite Form I-485 applications for families with dependent children in extreme poverty. Furthermore, the report does not provide a response from federal officials regarding whether the 2025 eligibility tightening was intended to create these specific gaps in care for refugee populations.
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