The recent decision by the Trump administration to deactivate the Social Security numbers of over 6,000 legal immigrants has raised major concerns.
These individuals, who are now marked as deceased in federal records, are facing severe challenges in maintaining their financial and legal identities.
Critics have called this action a “digital assassination,” and human rights activists have condemned it as an extreme measure targeting people who are legally residing in the US under previous immigration programs.
Without their Social Security numbers, these immigrants are struggling to perform basic tasks, such as opening bank accounts, accessing public benefits, or completing essential legal processes.
The administration justifies this move as part of its broader immigration policy, aiming to reduce illegal immigration by cutting off economic incentives. However, this reasoning fails to acknowledge that the people affected are legally authorized to remain in the country.
The decision to include these immigrants in the ‘Master Death File’ means that they are effectively erased from the system. This database, which has historically been used to record deaths, now includes individuals who are alive but categorized as deceased.
This change has serious consequences for their identity, eligibility for federal services, and financial stability. Being listed as deceased not only denies them social benefits but also prevents them from having an active financial life and exercising their rights.
The group of affected immigrants includes those on temporary parole, people allegedly linked to Department of Homeland Security watchlists, and immigrants with criminal records in FBI databases.
However, authorities have yet to provide solid evidence supporting these claims, which has led to more criticism about transparency and due process.
The inclusion of living individuals in the Master Death File is unprecedented. Until now, this database was only used to confirm deaths, and its alteration marks a significant shift in the way federal records are managed.
Internally, the White House is now reportedly referring to the database as the “Master File of Ineligibles,” expanding its purpose beyond what it was originally intended for and further marginalizing the individuals affected.
The final stage of this operation took place on April 8, when Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sent written notices to the affected immigrants, informing them that their parole had been canceled.
Since then, these individuals have found themselves trapped in a legal and financial limbo. They are considered dead by the system, yet they have no clear way to correct the error or restore their identities.
The lack of an immediate appeal process has worsened the situation for thousands of families, who now live with the constant threat of losing their economic stability and legal residency in the US, despite having followed all current immigration regulations.
This situation highlights the urgent need for a transparent and fair process to fix the errors and restore the rights and identities of those who have been wrongly.