Trump Administration Classifies Over 6,000 Living Immigrants as Deceased
WASHINGTON — In a controversial move, the Trump administration has classified more than 6,000 immigrants who are currently living in the United States as deceased. This decision results in the cancellation of their Social Security numbers, effectively hindering their ability to work, access benefits, and use essential services that require these numbers.
Impact on Affected Immigrants
The classification of these individuals as deceased is part of a broader initiative aimed at enforcing stricter immigration policies. This action is expected to complicate matters for the affected immigrants, making it difficult for them to engage with financial institutions and other essential services reliant on Social Security numbers. The administration hopes that this policy will encourage these individuals to ‘self-deport’ and return to their countries of origin.
Details of the Policy Change
According to sources familiar with the situation, the names and Social Security numbers of the impacted immigrants will be transferred to a federal database generally reserved for tracking deceased individuals. It remains unclear how these particular individuals were selected for this classification. However, it is notable that the Trump administration has previously focused on immigrants who were granted temporary status under policies of the Biden administration, including those who utilized the CBP One app for entry into the U.S.
Legal Ramifications
On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked the legal statuses of individuals who had entered using the CBP One app. Under the Biden administration, these immigrants were permitted to stay in the country with work authorization for a two-year period, but the current administration is now expected to see them leave the U.S.
Judicial Action and Advocacy
In a separate but related legal development, a federal judge recently intervened to prevent the Trump administration from mandating the departure of numerous Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan immigrants who currently hold temporary legal status.
As concerns mount over the implications of this classification, advocacy groups are preparing for potential legal challenges. Skye Perryman, the president and CEO of Democracy Forward, expressed intentions to file a lawsuit over the handling of Social Security numbers as more details emerge. “This president continues to engage in lawless behavior, violating the law and abusing our systems of checks and balances,” Perryman stated.
Policy Coordination Between Agencies
The recent developments come alongside an agreement between the DHS and the Treasury Department, allowing the IRS to share tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This partnership will enable ICE to cross-reference the names and addresses of undocumented immigrants against tax records, potentially aiding in their identification and deportation.
Conclusion
As the Trump administration pushes forward with these initiatives, the implications for immigrants and their legal statuses continue to unfold, prompting discussions about fairness, legality, and the rights of individuals affected by these policies.