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2.1 million non-citizens received Social Security Numbers (SSNs) in fiscal year 2024, up from 270,000 in 2021, based on claims by Elon Musk and Antonio Gracias
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The process for non-citizens to get SSNs includes asylum claims or border crossings with work authorization, potentially leading to automatic SSN issuance.
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Concerns include fraud, with 20 million dead people reportedly marked alive, but evidence leans toward this being a database issue, with only 44,000 still receiving benefits.
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There’s controversy over claims that this could change voting maps, with some non-citizens registered to vote, though such cases are rare and illegal.
Background
In a recent video, Elon Musk and Antonio Gracias discussed a significant increase in SSNs issued to non-citizens, highlighting potential fraud and political implications. Their claims have sparked debate, especially given the lack of official verification.
The Claim and Context
Musk and Gracias claimed that SSNs issued to non-citizens rose from 270,000 in 2021 to 2.1 million in 2024, based on a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) audit. This surge was presented as part of a broader investigation into SSA fraud, but official SSA data does not publicly break down annual SSN issuances by citizenship status, making independent verification challenging.
Process for Obtaining SSNs
Non-citizens can obtain SSNs through processes like Enumeration at Entry, where immigrants apply during visa processes, or by gaining work authorization after entering, such as through asylum claims. The video detailed that individuals can cross borders, get released with a notice to appear, apply for work documents, and receive SSNs automatically without interviews, raising concerns about vetting.
Fraud and Database Issues
The video mentioned 20 million dead people marked as alive in the SSA database, but a 2023 inspector general report clarified this as 19 million without death data, with only 44,000 still receiving benefits, suggesting a database error rather than widespread fraud.
Political and Voting Concerns
Musk and Gracias suggested this could be a strategy to import illegals and alter voting maps, claiming some non-citizens registered and voted, leading to prosecutions. However, non-citizens cannot legally vote in federal elections, and studies show such incidents are rare, often accidental due to registration errors.
Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Elon Musk’s Claims on Non-Citizen Social Security Numbers
Introduction
On March 30, 2025, a video featuring Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and Antonio Gracias, CEO of Valor Equity Partners, was presented at a town hall in Wisconsin. The discussion centered on a chart claiming a significant increase in Social Security Numbers (SSNs) issued to non-citizens, from 270,000 in 2021 to 2.1 million in fiscal year 2024 (FY2024, ending September 30, 2024). This report examines the claims, processes, and implications, providing a comprehensive analysis based on the transcript and available data.
The Claim: Surge in SSNs for Non-Citizens
The central claim, as stated by Gracias, was that SSNs issued to non-citizens increased dramatically, with 270,000 in 2021 and 2.1 million in 2024. This was part of a DOGE audit aimed at mapping SSA systems for fraud. Multiple news sources, including Breitbart, Fox News, and Times of India, reported this figure, citing the town hall. However, official SSA data, such as the Annual Statistical Supplement, 2024, does not provide annual breakdowns by citizenship, making verification difficult. An X post by
@PeterBernegger
(X post) specified 2,095,247 for FY2024, aligning with the 2.1 million claim.
Process for Obtaining SSNs by Non-Citizens
The transcript detailed how non-citizens obtain SSNs, primarily through two pathways:
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Asylum and Port of Entry: Entering via a port and claiming asylum leads to an interview and potential entry, followed by work authorization.
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Border Crossing: Crossing the border, telling Border Patrol they want to enter, and being released on recognizance with a notice to appear, which has long wait times (average six years for judges, with only 700 judges for 5.5 million cases).
Once in, they can file Form I-765 for work authorization, receive Form I-766, and SSA automatically sends an SSN without further verification, as noted in the video. This aligns with SSA processes like Enumeration at Entry, where immigrants can apply during visa processes (SSA Open Data | Enumeration Accuracy). The Rolling Stone article suggested these were legal immigrants on work or student visas, not undocumented, contradicting the video’s implication of illegals.
Concerns About Fraud and Database Errors
The video claimed 20 million dead people were marked alive in the SSA database, a figure that seems inflated. A 2023 SSA inspector general report (FactCheck.org) identified 19 million people born in 1920 or earlier without death data, but only 44,000 were still receiving benefits, indicating a database issue rather than fraud. This discrepancy highlights the need for careful interpretation of SSA data, as noted in CNN Business.
Political Implications and Voting Concerns
Musk and Gracias alleged this SSN issuance was part of a “massive, large-scale program to import as many illegals as possible” to change the voting map, making the U.S. a “deep-blue, one-party state.” They claimed to have found non-citizens registered to vote and some who voted, referring cases to Homeland Security Investigation Service for prosecution. However, USAGov and migrationpolicy.org clarify non-citizens cannot vote in federal elections, with rare cases often accidental, such as during driver’s license registration (NPR). A 2022 Georgia investigation found 1,634 potential non-citizen registration attempts blocked, underscoring rarity.
Verification Efforts and Context
Efforts to verify the 2.1 million figure included searching SSA reports, USCIS EAD data, and news articles. While SSA’s Annual Statistical Supplement, 2024 and Enumeration Accuracy pages discuss processes, they lack specific annual counts for non-citizens. USCIS data on Form I-765 (Immigration and Citizenship Data | USCIS) was explored, but exact 2024 figures weren’t found. The claim’s consistency across sources like CLG News suggests it’s based on internal DOGE findings, not public data.
Additional Insights
The Rolling Stone article noted the program began under Trump, with numbers rising under Biden, potentially reflecting increased immigration. This context is unexpected, as it challenges the video’s narrative of blaming Democrats, showing policy continuity. The video’s mention of 5.5 million people in the system, with 1.3 million on Medicaid, wasn’t verified, but aligns with reports of benefit access for legal non-citizens (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities).
Conclusion
The video’s claims highlight significant concerns about SSN issuance to non-citizens, but verification is limited by data availability. The process described is legal for work-authorized non-citizens, and fraud claims seem overstated compared to official reports. Voting concerns, while controversial, are rare and legally addressed, emphasizing the need for accurate data in public discourse.
Key Citations
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