The Trump Administration has implemented a controversial strategy to fulfill its promise of intensifying mass deportations.
According to research originally published by The New York Times, the U.S. government has declared more than 6,000 migrants with temporary legal status deceased, invalidating their Social Security numbers and removing their access to financial services, government benefits, and employment.
This process, described by some officials as a form of "digital assassination", represents a drastic intensification of the immigration measures adopted by the Administration.
The purpose, according to official sources cited by CBS News, is clear: “to encourage them to self-deport.”
The mechanism: A financial death
The action is carried out through the manipulation of the “master file of deaths” from the Social Security Administration (SSA), a database that is typically used to prevent improper payments to deceased individuals.
According to CBS News, this database has been renamed as "master file of ineligibles" and, under this new name, the SSA is incorporating living migrants with false dates of death, thereby invalidating their Social Security numbers.
This type of classification is "equivalent to a financial death," as banking institutions and government agencies rely on these records to verify individuals' identity and legal status.
Who are the affected?
The first group affected by this measure, according to The Washington Post, consists of more than 6,000 immigrants who entered the country under the parole program implemented by former President Joe Biden through the CBP One application.
The Trump administration has indicated that these individuals "had a financial incentive" to remain in the country.
However, the selection of individuals has not been entirely transparent, as revealed by AP.
Sources indicate that these are individuals under temporary programs allowed during the Biden era, which authorized their stay for two years with work permits, but whose legal status has now been revoked.
In addition, officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the SSA signed a memorandum of agreement that allowed the implementation of this measure.
CBS News reported that the first 6,000 names were added at the request of the DHS, and that the selected individuals allegedly had criminal records or ties to terrorism.
However, experts fear that this practice will extend to immigrants with valid work permits.
Immediate consequences
The effects on those affected are devastating.
The loss of the Social Security number means being unable to access bank accounts, medical services, formal employment, and federal benefits.
AP warns that "it is part of a broader initiative by President Donald Trump to suppress immigrants” protected under Biden-era policies.
Additionally, the Department of the Treasury and DHS signed another agreement allowing the IRS to share tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to verify and deport immigrants who are in the country illegally.
This measure prompted the resignation of the IRS acting commissioner, Melanie Krause.
Reactions and critiques
The measure has sparked a strong wave of criticism both from Congress and civil organizations.
Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, from the Senate Finance Committee, stated that “the action raises the possibility that the Trump Administration will steal legally obtained Social Security benefits from American citizens.”
For Wyden, this is proof that "Trump's promise to protect Social Security is a lie."
Martin O’Malley, former commissioner of the SSA during the Biden administration, was more emphatic: “If without due process, Trump and Musk can 'disappear' illegally or 'digitally assassinate' anyone who has legally entered our country, then they can do it to anyone who is already here legally.”
For her part, Skye Perryman, executive director of Democracy Forward, announced that her organization will likely sue over the implementation of this measure, which she qualifies as a violation of the rule of law.
“This president continues to engage in illegal behavior, violating the law and abusing our system of checks and balances,” he stated to AP.
The classification of legal immigrants as deceased represents an unprecedented measure, both for its human and legal implications.
Under the pretext of combating illegal immigration, the Trump administration appears to be undermining basic rights without due process, in an offensive that could extend to other vulnerable groups.
What began with 6,000 cases could become a high-risk precedent for legality and respect for the rule of law in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Immigration Policy of the Trump Administration
What is "digital assassination" as applied by the Trump administration?
The "digital assassination" is a strategy of the Trump administration that declares living migrants as "deceased" in Social Security records, invalidating their Social Security numbers and eliminating their access to financial services, government benefits, and employment. This is done with the aim of "encouraging them to self-deport."
How many migrants have been affected by this measure?
The measure has affected more than 6,000 immigrants who entered the country under the parole program implemented by former President Joe Biden through the CBP One app.
What are the consequences for migrants affected by "digital assassination"?
The affected migrants lose their Social Security numbers, which makes it impossible to access bank accounts, medical services, formal employment, and federal benefits. This is part of a broader initiative by President Trump to crack down on immigrants covered under Biden-era policies.
What criticisms has this measure generated?
The measure has sparked a strong wave of criticism from Congress and civil organizations. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden stated that it could deprive U.S. citizens of legally obtained Social Security benefits, while Martin O’Malley, former SSA commissioner, denounced that Trump and Musk could "illegally disappear" anyone who has entered the country legally.
What role does the CBP One application play in this situation?
The CBP One application was a method used by the Biden administration to facilitate the entry of migrants into the United States, allowing them to schedule appointments for legal entry. However, under the Trump administration, its use is being reversed to encourage self-deportation, being renamed CBP Home to facilitate the voluntary exit of migrants.
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