Elon Musk and Antonio Gracias revealed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) findings showing —a dramatic rise from 270,000 in 2021 to 2.1 million in 2024. Musk called the trend “mind-blowing” and accused the Biden administration of systemic for noncitizens, including asylum seekers who allegedly bypassed interviews. Immigration attorneys counter that Social Security rules haven’t changed: noncitizens to receive SSNs, typically through asylum approvals, visas, or pending immigration cases.
1. :
– Musk/Gracias argue asylum rules were loosened, allowing automatic SSN issuance without interviews.
– SSA guidelines still require noncitizens to submit DHS-approved documents (e.g., work permits, permanent residency applications).
2. :
– DOGE claims noncitizens collect benefits through “defaults set to max pay,” but federal law bars unauthorized immigrants from Social Security payouts. Legal noncitizens (e.g., green card holders) qualify only after 40 work credits.
3. :
– Gracias stated some noncitizens in their sample registered/voted illegally, with cases referred for prosecution. No convictions or evidence specifics were provided.
| | | |
|————————-|——————————————|——————————————-|
| SSN eligibility | No interview required under Biden | DHS work authorization mandatory |
| Benefits access | “Max pay” defaults drain system | Unauthorized pay $25B+ taxes, get $0|
| Fraud scale | 20M “dead” SSNs, systemic issues | SSA actively scrubbing outdated records|
Critics accuse Musk of conflating legal/illegal immigration, as SSA data doesn’t differentiate between visa holders, asylum-seekers, and unauthorized residents. The Social Security Administration has not commented on DOGE’s methodology, but third-party analysts note rising SSNs could reflect Biden’s rather than fraud. Meanwhile, concerns persist about voting integrity and long-term fiscal impacts, though evidence remains anecdotal.
