Thousands Of Immigrants' Social Security Numbers Marked as Dead

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has mistakenly classified thousands of immigrants as deceased, effectively preventing them from collecting benefits or working legally in the U.S., Sonal Nain reported for Newsweek.

Those affected reportedly include immigrants with valid Social Security numbers.

According to The Washington Post, more than 6,000 predominantly Latino migrants were added to the SSA’s Death Master File—a database used to track deceased individuals dating back to 1936.

Those affected reportedly include immigrants with valid Social Security numbers who lost their legal status after participating in now-expired temporary work programs initiated under President Joe Biden’s administration.

The move appears to follow two memoranda of agreement (MOAs) signed Monday by South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and acting Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek.

Individuals listed in the Death Master File are ineligible for Social Security benefits, Medicaid, Medicare, unemployment insurance, and federal financial aid.

The development has sparked alarm among immigrant advocacy groups, who warn that bureaucratic errors like these can have life-altering consequences for individuals already living in legal and economic limbo.