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Social Security Shifts Policy on Migrants' Status From Dead to Unverified

Policy Reversal on Migrants' Social Security Status

In a significant policy shift, the Social Security Administration (SSA) under the Trump administration has backed away from a controversial tactic of listing thousands of living immigrants as deceased in its critical database. Initially, this maneuver was part of a broader strategy to pressure migrants to 'self-deport' by cutting off their access to essential financial services like credit cards and bank accounts. As of July 1, the agency has decided to flag the Social Security numbers of individuals who have lost their temporary legal status as 'unverified' instead of deceased.

This change comes after months of criticism and legal challenges regarding the earlier practice, which placed migrants in the Social Security 'death master file.' The previous policy had severe implications, effectively canceling an immigrant's Social Security number and rendering them unable to access basic services. The new 'unverified' designation still alerts third parties that these individuals may not be eligible for certain services, but it stops short of the drastic step of classifying them as dead.

The decision to list living immigrants as deceased had drawn sharp rebuke from advocacy groups and lawmakers. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, along with 15 Democratic Senate colleagues, condemned the initial SSA decision in May, calling it 'malicious' and 'illegal.' Their demand for reversal highlighted the profound impact on affected individuals, including Haitian asylum seekers and children who had been reinstated in the database after requesting a reversal.

Additionally, the policy shift follows reports of legal actions, including lawsuits from 20 states over the administration's use of immigrants' Medicaid data. While some immigrants have been 'resurrected' from the death list, many still face barriers to benefits and services due to the 'unverified' status. This ongoing issue continues to affect thousands who previously held temporary legal status, leaving their financial stability in limbo.

Broader Implications for Social Security System

The practice of manipulating Social Security records for immigration enforcement purposes has raised concerns about the integrity and solvency of the system itself. Experts from the Brookings Institution have noted that adding immigrants to the death master file undermines the fundamental purpose of Social Security, which is to provide benefits and support to eligible individuals. This misuse of the database could have long-term consequences for trust in the system.

As this policy evolves, the balance between immigration enforcement and the protection of individual rights remains a contentious issue. The SSA's latest move to use an 'unverified' label instead of a death classification may mitigate some of the harshest effects, but it does not fully resolve the challenges faced by affected migrants. The debate over how Social Security data is used in immigration policy is likely to continue, with significant implications for both the immigrant community and the broader American public.

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