The Trump administration has initiated a controversial move to classify thousands of legally residing immigrants as deceased in Social Security databases, effectively canceling their Social Security numbers in what critics are calling “digital murder.”
Approximately 6,300 immigrants who legally obtained Social Security numbers under various programs, including temporary parole, have been moved to databases typically reserved for deceased individuals, according to government records obtained by advocacy groups.
The White House defended the action, stating their aim is to remove monetary incentives for undocumented immigrants, encouraging “self-deportation.” However, the affected individuals had entered the country legally under established programs.
“The police state is here, now,” said Martin O’Malley, a former SSA commissioner, expressing concern over privacy violations that could affect everyone’s personal data.
Democracy Forward, a watchdog organization, plans legal action against the administration. The group argues that this unprecedented move could establish a dangerous precedent for wrongly declaring other individuals, including citizens, as deceased.
“This president continues to engage in lawless behavior, violating the law and abusing our systems of checks and balances,” stated Democracy Forward representatives in their official statement.
Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, offered a stark assessment: “This is an outrageous abuse of power that will not only create extreme hardship, but kill people.”
The policy’s implementation coincides with a recent agreement between DHS and the IRS allowing tax data sharing for deportation purposes, raising additional concerns about taxpayer privacy and data protection.
Affected immigrants face severe limitations in accessing financial services, potentially creating significant hardships for families who have been legally residing and working in the United States.