Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
Has it been found that illegal aliens have been given social security numbers?
Executive Summary
The available evidence shows that unauthorized immigrants have obtained and used Social Security numbers, most commonly by using stolen or fraudulently obtained numbers, and that federal agencies and advocates report both confirmed enforcement cases and broader estimates of prevalence. Government statements and enforcement actions document instances where illegal aliens used Social Security numbers to work, while policy documents and research explain the rules under which noncitizens may lawfully receive numbers, creating a mixed picture of legal issuance versus fraudulent use [1] [2] [3] [4].
1. How officials and reports frame the problem: enforcement sweeps and administration claims that grab headlines
Federal enforcement and administration materials present the issue as both an enforcement priority and evidence of systemic vulnerability. A June 2025 ICE worksite operation publicly identified around 70 unauthorized workers using stolen Social Security numbers, affecting more than 100 victims, which the agency used to highlight identity-theft ties to illegal employment [1]. A White House fact sheet characterized a Presidential Memorandum aimed at stopping ineligible aliens from obtaining Social Security Act benefits and claimed that over two million Social Security numbers were assigned to noncitizens in fiscal 2024, using that figure to justify policy changes [2]. Those official statements frame the problem as a mix of fraud, identity theft, and program integrity concerns while linking enforcement actions to policy shifts [2] [1].
2. Academic and policy analyses explain lawful issuance rules and where confusion arises
Policy researchers and past Congressional summaries clarify that Social Security numbers are lawfully issued to noncitizens who are authorized to work, and that certain visa categories and legal statuses create eligibility distinctions that can be misunderstood. A Congressional Research Service review noted that noncitizens with work authorization are eligible for an SSN and described exceptions without asserting broad improper issuance to undocumented immigrants [3]. Recent reporting on regulatory changes indicates shifts in administrative practice—such as changes that stopped automatic SSN issuance for some legal immigrants—have created confusion between lawful issuance to authorized noncitizens and unlawful access by unauthorized individuals [5] [6]. This complexity means that headline claims about “given” numbers can conflate lawful issuance to authorized immigrants with fraudulent acquisition by unauthorized persons [3] [5].
3. Estimates and advocacy pieces present high-prevalence claims but vary in sourcing
Some advocacy or opinion pieces and policy commentaries have produced large estimates of fraudulent SSN use among unauthorized immigrants, asserting high percentages based on selective data. A February 2025 article claimed roughly 75% of illegal aliens use fraudulently obtained Social Security numbers to obtain employment, and argued SSA data could be used to identify such cases [4]. These high-prevalence figures are cited by proponents of tougher enforcement but are not universally corroborated by independent, peer-reviewed studies in the materials provided. The disparity between strong, specific enforcement examples and broader prevalence claims suggests methodological differences in how data are counted and whether figures reflect proven fraudulent use, lawful issuance to authorized noncitizens, or extrapolations from limited enforcement operations [4].
4. Contrasting explanations: fraud, identity theft, and administrative errors all play roles
The materials collectively indicate three distinct mechanisms through which unauthorized persons end up with or use Social Security numbers: [7] identity theft of existing numbers belonging to U.S. citizens or lawful residents, documented in enforcement cases; [8] misuse or fraudulent presentation of documents to obtain an original SSN; and [9] administrative pathways that lawfully issue SSNs to noncitizens with work authorization, sometimes misinterpreted as improper issuance. ICE enforcement examples illustrate mechanism [7] in practice, while CRS and reporting on policy changes illustrate mechanism [9], and advocacy pieces focus on mechanism [8] or conflate mechanisms to argue for policy shifts. Distinguishing among these mechanisms is essential to understanding claims that illegal aliens “have been given” SSNs versus having obtained or used them improperly [1] [3] [5].
5. Bottom line for assessing the original claim and what to watch next
The evidence supports the proposition that unauthorized immigrants have obtained and used Social Security numbers—often through identity theft or fraudulent means—and that government enforcement actions confirm instances of such misuse; however, official policy documents also show lawful issuance to authorized noncitizens, which can be mischaracterized in broad statements. When evaluating future claims, check whether figures refer to lawful SSN issuance to authorized immigrants, arrests and documented fraud cases, or extrapolated prevalence estimates from advocacy sources. Differing agendas—administrations emphasizing program integrity, enforcement agencies highlighting prosecutions, and advocacy outlets pushing for stricter or more lenient policies—shape how the same data are presented, so scrutiny of source type and methodology matters [2] [3] [1] [4].