WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) — Four undocumented Haitians have been arrested in the United States as part of an operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeting alleged fraud involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme (SNAP).

ICE said the operation is aimed at protecting taxpayer-funded food assistance benefits intended for eligible individuals and families facing financial hardship.

The agency identified the four Haitians among its initial arrests as Rubstony Junior Theodore, Wilbert Jean Baptiste, Louis Jean and Jhensly Charles.

According to ICE, Theodore has a history of arrests for offences including larceny, obstructing officers and trespassing.

“These arrests are the first wave of a nationwide ICE operation targeting illegal aliens who have fraudulently accessed SNAP benefits intended by Congress for US citizens in need,” the agency said.

ICE alleged that all four individuals entered the United States unlawfully, adding that some had previous criminal records.

“Defrauding US taxpayer-funded programmes designed to feed struggling American families will not be tolerated, and ICE will continue to seek out and arrest these criminal illegal aliens,” it said.

The agency said President Donald Trump and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin are intensifying efforts to combat alleged SNAP fraud and prevent individuals found to have unlawfully accessed the programme from receiving further benefits.

Mullin maintained that undocumented immigrants should not have access to taxpayer-funded welfare programmes, arguing that fraudulent claims place an additional burden on American taxpayers.

“These programmes are for Americans only. Even non-violent illegal alien crime can still have devastating consequences when they’re defrauding the American taxpayer,” he said.

“The illegal alien fraudsters that we’ve already arrested and deported are just a drop in the bucket, and the Trump Administration is committed to going after all these thieves and bringing them to justice,” Mullin added.

ICE indicated that the arrests mark the beginning of a broader nationwide enforcement effort targeting suspected fraudulent access to SNAP benefits.