Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Prevents Illegal Aliens from Obtaining Social Security Act Benefits

TLDR

This executive order reinforces existing laws that already bar undocumented immigrants from receiving federal benefits like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. It focuses on administrative enforcement of eligibility verification and fraud prevention rather than creating new restrictions. The associated fact sheet contains misleading claims about SSN issuance to undocumented immigrants and exaggerates the fiscal impact, as studies show undocumented immigrants contribute significantly in taxes while being ineligible for most benefits. The order is largely symbolic, emphasizing enforcement of long-established policies.

This is a “fact” sheet for an executive order that purports to end benefits for illegal aliens.

Undocumented immigrants (those in the U.S. without legal status) are already barred by law from receiving Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and most other federal benefits. This has been federal policy since at least the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996. Only “lawfully present” noncitizens may qualify for these benefits, and even then, only under strict eligibility rules.

The new memorandum and executive order reinforce existing law but do not create new restrictions for undocumented immigrants—because such restrictions are already in place.

The order’s directives—such as requiring agencies to verify eligibility, stop payments to deceased or ineligible payees, and expand fraud prosecution—are administrative steps that reinforce existing anti-fraud practices. These are not new legal authorities but rather an emphasis on enforcement and oversight.

The claim that “more than 2 million illegal aliens were assigned SSNs in fiscal year 2024” is misleading. Social Security Numbers (SSNs) can be lawfully issued to non-citizens who possess legal status in the United States. This includes individuals such as refugees, asylum seekers, those granted temporary protected status, recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and parolees who have obtained work authorization. The Social Security Administration (SSA) requires verification of immigration status before assigning an SSN, meaning undocumented immigrants without legal status cannot legally receive one.

While it is true that some undocumented immigrants may resort to using false or borrowed SSNs in order to gain employment, this unauthorized use does not qualify them for federal benefits. In fact, many of these individuals pay into Social Security through payroll taxes despite being ineligible to receive the benefits those taxes fund. This results in billions of dollars contributed annually to the system without any return to the undocumented workers themselves.

Claims that undocumented immigrants impose an overwhelming financial burden on the U.S. are often rooted in flawed or misleading data. For instance, FAIR’s frequently cited $182 billion estimate has been widely criticized for poor methodology, including counting costs associated with U.S.-born children and services unrelated to immigration status. In contrast, reputable studies show that undocumented immigrants contribute significantly in taxes—particularly to Social Security and Medicare—even though they are ineligible for most benefits. Similarly, the assertion of a $150.7 billion net fiscal burden lacks support from nonpartisan research, which generally finds immigrants’ economic contributions to be positive or neutral. Regarding Medicaid, the $16.2 billion figure reflects emergency care mandated by law for life-threatening conditions, a long-standing provision that does not constitute a new benefit.

Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for standard Medicare or Medicaid benefits. The only access they have is to emergency Medicaid, which covers treatment for life-threatening conditions, as mandated by federal law. They are also excluded from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces—meaning they cannot purchase coverage or receive subsidies. Although there was an effort to allow DACA recipients access to ACA coverage, this initiative was halted by a federal court ruling in December 2024.

Claims that federal benefits like Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid incentivize illegal immigration are unfounded, as undocumented immigrants are categorically ineligible for these programs. There is no credible evidence that access to such benefits acts as a significant “pull factor.” In fact, most states offer little to no assistance to undocumented immigrants, aside from emergency medical care or limited support for children and pregnant women through state-funded programs.

The executive order and its fact sheet largely restate existing law and amplify enforcement of rules already in place. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or ACA benefits. Claims of widespread fraud or fiscal burden are exaggerated or based on controversial data. The memo is primarily symbolic, reinforcing a message rather than changing policy or law.