Fact Sheet: President Trump stops unauthorized immigrants from getting Social Security

President Donald J. Trump recently took action to prevent illegal aliens and other ineligible individuals from accessing benefits under the Social Security Act. By signing a Presidential Memorandum, President Trump put measures in place to ensure that funds from Social Security Act programs are not misallocated to people who do not meet the eligibility criteria.

The memorandum specifically directs the administration to implement guidelines and enforcement strategies to prevent ineligible aliens from receiving benefits, including verifying eligibility, halting payments to deceased or ineligible recipients, and preventing fraud. Additionally, the memorandum seeks to expand the reach of the Social Security Administration’s fraud prosecutor program to 50 U.S. Attorney Offices and establishes Medicare and Medicaid fraud-prosecution programs in 15 U.S. Attorney Offices. It also mandates the SSA Inspector General to investigate earnings reports for individuals aged 100 or older with discrepancies in SSA records to address issues related to identity theft.

President Trump’s focus on protecting taxpayer dollars underscores his belief that benefits should only be allocated to individuals who are legitimately eligible. The President aims to reduce the financial strain caused by illegal immigration on American citizens and state and local budgets. The surge in illegal immigration under the previous administration has resulted in significant costs to taxpayers. More than 2 million illegal aliens were assigned Social Security Numbers (SSNs) in fiscal year 2024 alone, indicating a significant burden on public funds.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) estimated that American taxpayers spend approximately $182 billion annually to support the presence of 20 million illegal aliens and their children. This expense includes Federal costs of $66.4 billion and additional state and local expenditures totaling $115.6 billion. FAIR highlighted the prevalence of stolen identities or fraudulent SSNs among illegal aliens, noting that nearly a million individuals possess such documentation. Despite some illegal aliens paying taxes, the overall net fiscal burden is estimated at $150.7 billion, indicating a significant strain on public resources.

Furthermore, the Congressional Budget Office reported that the open borders agenda of the Biden Administration, including plans to provide Medicaid-funded emergency services to illegal aliens, has cost Federal and state taxpayers over $16.2 billion. Efforts to make illegal aliens eligible for Obamacare were halted through legal action, highlighting the potential costly implications of such policies.

President Trump’s commitment to closing the border and eliminating monetary incentives for illegal immigration is evident in his efforts to remove illegal immigrants from accessing Social Security benefits. By implementing the recent memorandum and utilizing tools like the CBP Home app to facilitate self-deportation, the Trump Administration is taking proactive steps to protect taxpayer resources and discourage illegal immigration.