In a controversial move, the Trump administration is using the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) death database to label living migrants as deceased. The strategy, which renders their Social Security numbers inoperable, is intended to restrict access to work and benefits, effectively pressuring them to leave the country voluntarily.
More than 6,300 individuals, mostly Latino migrants who arrived under President Biden’s temporary immigration programmes, have already been added to the list. The policy, critics argue, amounts to “financial erasure”, leaving many unable to access basic services such as banking, housing or employment.
Targeting Biden-Era Migrants Through the ‘Death Master File’
The strategy centres on the SSA’s ‘Death Master File’, a database historically used to prevent the payment of benefits to deceased individuals. According to The New York Times, the list has been repurposed and renamed the “Ineligible Master File”, with living migrants added under fictitious death dates.
Once flagged as deceased, their Social Security numbers become invalid, removing access to essential financial and legal services.
The initial group affected includes individuals who entered the US legally under the Biden administration’s humanitarian parole programmes, notably from Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti and Nicaragua. These migrants were granted temporary work authorisation but have since seen their legal status revoked by executive order.
According to CBS News, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and SSA Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek signed a memorandum authorising the addition of names to the death list.
Officials claim this action focuses on migrants with criminal records or suspected ties to terrorism, although internal sources have raised concerns over data accuracy and due process.
Financial and Legal Repercussions for Migrants
The consequences of being listed as dead are profound. According to AP News, individuals affected lose the ability to maintain bank accounts, access credit, rent housing or even prove their identity.
For many, this is effectively a “financial death”, forcing them into economic isolation. In order to correct the record, individuals must undergo a bureaucratic process internally referred to as “resurrection”, which can take months or longer.
The move has prompted criticism from former SSA officials and civil rights advocates. Martin O’Malley, former commissioner of the SSA, described the policy as “inhumane”, while Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon warned it may lead to the unlawful confiscation of earned Social Security benefits.
Concerns also exist about the legal basis for the policy. The SSA is bound by strict federal privacy laws, and the expanded sharing of data with immigration enforcement agencies represents a significant shift from previous practice.
According to Democracy Forward, legal action is likely to follow once further details emerge regarding the administration’s handling of migrant data.
