Fact check: Did they boot 275,000 illegal immigrants off social security

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, there is no evidence supporting the claim that 275,000 illegal immigrants were removed from Social Security. The sources reveal a different picture of recent immigration and Social Security policies:

• President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum to prevent illegal aliens from obtaining Social Security Act benefits ^[1], but this appears to be a preventive measure rather than removal of existing beneficiaries
• More than 1,000 immigrants with criminal records or ties to terrorist activity were stopped from receiving Social Security benefits ^[1], which is significantly lower than the claimed 275,000
• Approximately 1.6 million illegal aliens left the U.S. during Secretary Noem's first 200 days ^[2], but this refers to general departures, not specifically removal from Social Security programs
• More than 2 million ineligible illegal aliens received Social Security Numbers in fiscal year 2024 alone ^[3], indicating the scale of the issue but not supporting the removal claim

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial context about Social Security eligibility and the economic implications of immigration policy:

• Undocumented immigrants actually contribute to Social Security through payroll taxes but often cannot claim benefits, creating a net positive effect for the system ^{[4] [5]}
• Deporting undocumented immigrants would reduce Social Security program income and accelerate Trust Fund depletion ^[5], contradicting narratives that removing immigrants helps the system
• SSI benefits have specific eligibility criteria for noncitizens ^[6], meaning many immigrants may not have been eligible in the first place

Political figures and organizations benefit from different narratives:

• Immigration restrictionist groups benefit from promoting the idea that immigrants drain Social Security resources
• The Trump administration benefits from claiming credit for protecting Social Security through immigration enforcement ^[7]
• Pro-immigration organizations like the American Immigration Council benefit from highlighting immigrants' positive contributions to Social Security ^[8]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The specific claim of "275,000 illegal immigrants" being "booted off" Social Security appears to be unsupported by available evidence and potentially misleading:

• No source provides verification of this specific number despite multiple analyses examining Trump administration immigration and Social Security policies
• The framing suggests immigrants were improperly receiving benefits, when the reality is more complex - many undocumented workers contribute to Social Security without being able to claim benefits
• The term "booted off" implies active removal, while the evidence suggests preventive measures rather than mass removals of existing beneficiaries
• The question conflates different programs and policies, mixing general immigration enforcement with specific Social Security benefit administration

The claim appears to oversimplify a complex policy area where undocumented immigrants often contribute more to Social Security than they receive, making the premise of the question potentially misleading about the actual fiscal relationship between immigration and Social Security.