The Trump administration is pursuing a strategy designed to prompt certain immigrants without legal status to voluntarily leave the United States. According to an official who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, the government intends to classify these individuals as deceased in federal databases, thereby deactivating their Social Security numbers.
The focus of this effort is on immigrants who were initially granted legal entry under the Biden administration but have since lost their temporary protected status. These individuals would be added to the Social Security Administration’s “death master list,” a federal record typically used to prevent deceased individuals from receiving Social Security payments. “Immigrants who were legally admitted to the U.S. under the Biden administration but have since had their temporary status revoked would be added to the Social Security Administration’s ‘death master list,’” the anonymous official told Reuters.
In the U.S., a Social Security number is essential not just for employment and tax purposes but also for obtaining government benefits and performing routine financial tasks. These numbers serve as tax identifiers and are necessary for opening bank accounts, applying for credit cards, and conducting many other transactions. Without a valid Social Security number, individuals are effectively excluded from both public assistance and the financial system.
The plan was initially revealed by The New York Times, which reviewed internal documents and interviewed six individuals familiar with the proposal. The newspaper reported that the underlying strategy is to create enough financial pressure on the affected immigrants that they will opt to leave the country voluntarily. By invalidating their Social Security numbers, the administration hopes to cut them off from key financial and governmental services. “The goal is to pressure migrants to self-deport by effectively canceling their Social Security numbers and cutting them off from financial services,” the Times reported.
Although the administration has not publicly confirmed the plan in detail, Assistant Press Secretary Liz Huston issued a statement that hinted at the policy’s broader objectives. “President Trump promised mass deportations and by removing the monetary incentive for illegal aliens to come and stay, we will encourage them to self-deport,” Huston stated. However, she did not directly confirm or elaborate on the specifics of the Social Security deactivation plan.
The Times also reported that the government has already added over 6,300 names to a federal blacklist. These names reportedly belong to individuals convicted of crimes or identified as suspected terrorists.The Times, citing documents, reported that the names of more than 6,300 convicted criminals or ‘suspected terrorists’ have been added to the government blacklist.
Using the “death master list” in this way marks a significant expansion of the federal government’s use of sensitive personal data in immigration enforcement. President Trump has repeatedly emphasized his goal of significantly reducing the number of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., and this effort is seen as another step in that direction.
Further highlighting this approach, the Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Department of Homeland Security recently finalized an agreement to share taxpayer information with immigration enforcement agencies. This agreement will allow immigration officials access to sensitive tax records that can be used to locate undocumented individuals more efficiently. “On Monday, the Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Homeland Security finalized an agreement under which taxpayer data will be provided to federal immigration authorities to help them locate migrants,” Reuters reported.
This move has already triggered internal consequences. Following the finalization of the agreement, the acting head of the IRS, along with several other senior officials, resigned from their positions. Their resignations signal the potential controversy and ethical concerns surrounding the sharing of confidential taxpayer information with immigration authorities.
The administration’s broader immigration enforcement plans also include significant financial penalties for those who defy deportation orders. Reuters reported on Tuesday that migrants who remain in the United States despite being under deportation orders could face daily fines of up to $998. In cases where individuals fail to pay these fines, the government may seize their property. Reuters on Tuesday reported that the Trump administration plans to fine migrants under deportation orders up to $998 a day if they fail to leave the United States and to seize their property if they do not pay.
These combined efforts represent a multi-pronged strategy aimed at deterring unauthorized immigration and encouraging self-deportation by eliminating access to financial and social infrastructure. By cutting off Social Security numbers, imposing heavy financial penalties, and using taxpayer data for enforcement purposes, the administration is making it increasingly difficult for individuals without legal status to remain in the country.
While critics are likely to challenge the legality and ethics of these measures, the administration appears committed to using every tool at its disposal to reduce the undocumented population. The classification of living individuals as deceased for enforcement purposes is particularly controversial and could lead to legal challenges if implemented.
The proposal also raises significant concerns about due process, accuracy, and the potential for mistaken identity. Critics warn that such a plan could result in legal immigrants or even U.S. citizens being wrongly targeted, especially if the data used to compile the lists is flawed or outdated.
Nevertheless, the Trump administration continues to defend its immigration policies as necessary to uphold the rule of law and national security. “By removing the monetary incentive for illegal aliens to come and stay, we will encourage them to self-deport,” said Huston, reaffirming the administration’s belief that economic deterrence is a viable enforcement strategy.
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, immigration policy is expected to remain a key issue for the Trump campaign, with promises of stricter enforcement and reduced immigration taking center stage. The recent steps taken by the administration reflect a growing focus on administrative and bureaucratic tools to achieve policy objectives without requiring new legislation.
In summary, the Trump administration’s latest immigration policy involves adding certain immigrants who have lost their temporary legal status to a list meant for deceased individuals. This effectively renders their Social Security numbers useless and prevents them from accessing essential services, in an effort to drive self-deportation. This initiative, along with new agreements to share tax data with immigration authorities and impose substantial daily fines, underscores the administration’s aggressive approach to curbing unauthorized immigration through both legal and financial pressures.