Did Biden administration give social security numbers to illegals
This fact-check may be outdated. Consider refreshing it to get the most current information.
Executive summary
Claims that the Biden administration “gave Social Security numbers to illegals” conflate several facts: the Social Security Administration’s Enumeration Beyond Entry (EBE) issued millions of new SSNs to noncitizens during 2021–2025, and many of those recipients had lawful work authorization or other legal reasons to obtain numbers — not blanket “unvetted” issuance to undocumented migrants [1] [2]. Independent fact-checkers (Poynter, Snopes) say the data were used out of context by critics who linked EBE totals to an alleged scheme to import voters; the EBE process began in 2017 and covers legally eligible noncitizens as well as specific non‑work cases [2] [1].
1. What the data actually show: steady rises in SSNs to noncitizens, not a secret giveaway
Public charts cited by critics show large increases in SSNs issued to “noncitizens” under EBE — for example, 2,095,247 SSNs issued in fiscal 2024 — and multi‑year totals reaching into the millions for 2021–2025 [1]. Journalists and fact‑checkers note those numbers reflect noncitizens who received SSNs through EBE, a legal mechanism that predates Biden and that records new SSNs issued to people born abroad or admitted to the U.S. [2] [1]. The numbers alone do not prove mass, unvetted issuance to undocumented people [1].
2. Why critics portray this as “illegals” getting cards — and where that framing breaks down
Political actors and outlets framed the EBE totals as proof the Biden administration “handed out” SSNs to undocumented immigrants to enable voting and benefits [3] [4] [5]. Fact‑checkers dispute that framing: EBE includes people granted lawful status, humanitarian parole, Temporary Protected Status, and work authorization — categories that make recipients eligible for SSNs under existing rules [2]. Poynter specifically flagged claims that the 5.5 million shown in a chart were all people who “crossed illegally, applied for asylum and received a work permit” as unsupported [2].
3. How the legal process works: SSNs for noncitizens are often lawful and purposeful
SSA and reporting explain noncitizens can get SSNs when they have work authorization or a “valid non‑work reason” (for example, to receive certain state benefits); such cards may be marked “not valid for employment” when appropriate [2]. The EBE program tracks SSNs issued to noncitizens and began in October 2017; issuance under Biden rose partly because the administration expanded humanitarian pathways and because immigration increased overall [2]. In other words, many of the new SSNs reflect legal pathways, not necessarily undocumented entry followed by immediate benefits [2].
4. Voting and benefit claims: the evidence does not support widescale fraud
Assertions that newly issued SSNs enabled noncitizens to vote or “change the voting map” have been debunked by fact‑checkers; only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections, and Poynter found no evidence that the EBE numbers equate to mass noncitizen voting [2]. Snopes documented similar context: specific EBE totals exist, but linking them to an orchestrated Biden plan to import “as many illegals as possible” misrepresents the program and the data [1].
5. Opposing narratives and political use of the numbers
Conservative outlets and statements from the Trump White House framed the rise in SSNs as proof of policy failures or fraud, asserting millions of “illegal aliens” obtained SSNs and benefits in FY2024 alone [6] [3]. Advocacy groups and some commentators likewise present work‑permit recipients as effectively “illegal aliens” becoming beneficiaries [7]. Journalistic fact‑checkers counter that those narratives mix legally authorized immigration pathways and administrative data to reach politically potent but misleading conclusions [2] [1].
6. What reporting does not show or answer clearly
Available sources do not provide a precise count of how many EBE SSNs went specifically to people who were unlawfully present at the time of issuance, nor do they show systemic “zero vetting” by the SSA as alleged by some critics (not found in current reporting). Detailed breakdowns by immigration status at time of issuance and the administrative vetting steps taken are not fully disclosed in the cited pieces [1] [2].
Bottom line: SSA data show millions of SSNs were issued to noncitizens in recent years; fact‑checkers and reporting attribute much of that rise to lawful pathways, existing EBE procedures, and increased migration — not to proof of a clandestine Biden program to give SSNs en masse to undocumented people for voting or benefits [2] [1].