Fact check: What is the process for undocumented immigrants to obtain social security numbers under the Biden Administration?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, the process for undocumented immigrants to obtain Social Security numbers involves several key mechanisms and recent changes:

Current Process for Noncitizens:

• Noncitizens authorized to work in the US are eligible to receive Social Security numbers ^[1]
• The Social Security Administration uses a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services web service called SAVE to cross-check an applicant's immigration status, and the process can be protracted to check for fraud or identity theft ^[2]
• Noncitizens must provide proof of their immigration status when applying for SSI benefits ^[3]

Recent Policy Changes:

• The Enumeration Beyond Entry (EBE) program, which allowed certain immigrant applicants to request a Social Security number directly on their immigration forms, has been paused as of March 19, 2025 ^[4]
• Affected individuals must now apply in person at SSA offices, which may cause operational delays ^[4]
• Applicants will now need to visit their local Social Security office in person and complete Form SS-5 to apply for a Social Security card ^[5]

Historical Context:

• The Biden Administration oversaw a sharp increase in the number of immigrants given Social Security Numbers (SSNs) ^[6]
• This contrasts with Trump Administration's actions to stop illegal aliens from receiving Social Security benefits ^[7]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements:

Legal Distinctions:

• The analyses reveal a crucial distinction between undocumented immigrants and noncitizens authorized to work - only the latter are eligible for Social Security numbers ^[1]
• There are specific categories of qualified aliens who may be eligible for benefits, with detailed requirements ^[3]

Recent Administrative Changes:

• The EBE program has been ended with no public notice given ^[5], representing a significant shift in policy that may cause disruptions for employers and applicants ^[5]
• This change occurred in March 2025, indicating very recent policy modifications that affect the process

Broader Immigration Policy Context:

• The question doesn't acknowledge the contrast between different administrations' approaches - while the Biden Administration saw increases in SSN issuance ^[6], the Trump Administration actively worked to prevent illegal aliens from obtaining Social Security Act benefits ^{[7] [6]}

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains several potentially misleading elements:

Terminology Issues:

• The question uses "undocumented immigrants" when the actual eligibility is for "noncitizens authorized to work" ^[1] - this conflates different legal categories and may perpetuate confusion about who is actually eligible

Temporal Assumptions:

• The question assumes there is a current, active process under the Biden Administration, but the EBE program has been paused as of March 19, 2025 ^[4], meaning the process has recently changed significantly

Scope Limitations:

• The question focuses solely on the Biden Administration without acknowledging that Social Security number issuance policies have varied significantly between administrations ^{[7] [6]}, which could lead to incomplete understanding of the current legal framework

Missing Legal Framework:

• The question doesn't distinguish between Social Security numbers for work purposes versus Social Security Act benefits like SSI, which have different eligibility requirements for noncitizens ^[3]