This week, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has made a significant move by entering the names and Social Security numbers of over 6,000 predominantly Latino immigrants into a database that tracks deceased individuals. This action effectively strips these immigrants of their ability to receive benefits or work legally within the United States. Reports from The Washington Post indicate that this initiative was requested by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem and aims to pressure undocumented immigrants to exit the country.
Among those affected are immigrants who possess valid Social Security numbers yet have lost their legal status in the U.S., including individuals who previously entered under temporary work programs established during the Biden administration. A White House official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the program, stated that the individuals included in this database have connections to criminal activities or are on the FBI's terror watch list, although no concrete evidence has been provided to support these claims.
Elizabeth Huston, a spokeswoman for the White House, emphasized that this initiative is part of President Trump's promise to carry out mass deportations. Huston stated, "By removing the monetary incentive for illegal aliens to come and stay, we will encourage them to self-deport." This initiative marks the commencement of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to remove potentially hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants who hold Social Security numbers and are currently able to access various federal benefits.
The immigrants were added to the death database following two memorandums of agreement signed by Noem and acting Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek. These agreements permit the SSA to categorize these immigrants as deceased for national security reasons, which has raised legal concerns among current and former SSA officials. They argue that adding living individuals to a database intended for deceased persons violates privacy laws.
The move to transfer these individuals to the death database is unprecedented and has sparked concerns about its legality and the implications for those affected. Current and former officials, who requested anonymity for fear of repercussions, warned that being mistakenly categorized as deceased could lead to severe financial hardships and loss of essential federal benefits.
Of the nearly 6,000 individuals moved to the death database, approximately 1,000 are currently receiving benefits through Medicaid, while others are accessing unemployment insurance and student loans. The White House official claimed that listing these immigrants in the database would mean they are treated as deceased by various federal agencies, employers, and banks, ultimately cutting off their ability to earn a legal income.
The Trump administration plans to expand this database further by including an additional 92,000 undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions, followed by those without any criminal histories. This strategy represents a shift in how the administration is approaching immigration enforcement, utilizing the SSA's death database as a tool for deportation.
The Social Security press office has not responded to requests for comments regarding this controversial initiative. As the administration intensifies its efforts to remove undocumented immigrants, it has also reached agreements with the Internal Revenue Service to access tax data for undocumented individuals, further complicating the landscape of immigration enforcement.
Critics of this initiative argue that the move to use the death database as a mechanism for deportation is not only aggressive but also unprecedented in its implications. The repercussions for those listed as deceased could be severe, affecting their access to employment, housing, and essential services.
This new policy by the Social Security Administration highlights the ongoing debates and challenges surrounding immigration in the United States. As the administration continues to implement unconventional tactics to address the issue of undocumented immigration, the impact on vulnerable communities remains a pressing concern.
