Fact check: How do illegal immigrants receive social security numbers?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, the question of how illegal immigrants receive Social Security numbers reveals a complex regulatory landscape with recent policy changes. Legally, only noncitizens authorized to work in the United States by the Department of Homeland Security can obtain a Social Security number ^[1]. The legitimate process requires robust documentation to verify identity, legal status, and work authorization ^[2].

However, the analyses reveal that over 2 million illegal aliens were assigned SSNs in fiscal year 2024 alone, according to claims from the Trump administration ^[3]. This suggests that despite official requirements, unauthorized immigrants have been receiving Social Security numbers through some mechanism. President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum specifically aimed at stopping illegal aliens from obtaining Social Security Act benefits, indicating this was a recognized problem ^[3].

Recent policy changes have tightened controls: As of March 19, 2025, the SSA paused automatic SSN issuance for many immigrant applicants, including those receiving new work permits and newly naturalized citizens ^[4]. Affected individuals must now apply in person at SSA offices, creating additional verification steps.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial pieces of context that emerge from the analyses:

• The distinction between legal pathways and unauthorized acquisition - The analyses show there are legitimate ways for authorized noncitizens to obtain SSNs ^{[1] [2]}, but also evidence that unauthorized immigrants have been receiving them ^[3].
• Recent policy enforcement changes - The question doesn't acknowledge that the Trump administration implemented new measures specifically to prevent illegal aliens from obtaining Social Security benefits ^[3], suggesting this was an ongoing issue requiring intervention.
• Administrative challenges and verification gaps - While one source argues that "nothing is issued automatically" and the process is "exhaustive" ^[2], another source indicates that automatic issuance was occurring until March 2025 ^[4], revealing conflicting information about administrative practices.
• The scale of the issue - The question doesn't reference the significant numbers involved - over 2 million cases in a single fiscal year ^[3], which provides important context about the magnitude of unauthorized SSN issuance.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question, while seemingly neutral, contains an implicit assumption that may be misleading:

• The question assumes illegal immigrants routinely receive Social Security numbers, when the official policy clearly states that only work-authorized noncitizens are eligible ^[1]. This framing could perpetuate misconceptions about immigration policy.
• The question lacks temporal context - It doesn't acknowledge that recent policy changes have specifically addressed this issue, with new verification requirements implemented as of March 2025 ^[4] and presidential action taken to prevent unauthorized access ^[3].
• Political stakeholders benefit from different narratives - Immigration restrictionists and the Trump administration benefit from highlighting cases where unauthorized immigrants received SSNs to justify stricter policies ^[3], while immigrant advocacy groups might emphasize the legitimate pathways and documentation requirements ^[2].

The analyses reveal that while unauthorized SSN issuance has occurred historically, recent administrative and policy changes have been implemented specifically to address these gaps in the system ^{[3] [4]}.