From: allin
Recent discussions have highlighted significant concerns regarding immigration and its effects on politics and society in the United States, particularly concerning Social Security number issuance, border security, and the broader impact of immigration policies on national resources and integrity.
Social Security Numbers for Non-Citizens
The Social Security number (SSN) was initially established in 1936 to track citizens’ earnings [00:06:24]. In the 1990s, the practice expanded to include non-citizens authorized to work in the U.S. for tax collection purposes [00:06:28]. Legal immigrants, such as green card holders or those on valid visas (e.g., TN Visa), are required to have an SSN to work and contribute to Social Security and Medicare [00:06:37].
However, recent data analysis reveals a dramatic increase in SSNs issued to non-citizens through the “Enumeration Beyond Entry” (EBE) program [00:05:39]. This program, which became active in 2017, saw a significant ramp-up, from a baseline of 300,000-400,000 people annually to 2.1 million people [00:05:48]. The vast majority of this growth is linked to asylum programs and individuals entering the country on Notices to Appear (NTAs) at the border or airports [00:09:24].
Concerns and Identified Issues
Abuses in Asylum Process
The rapid growth in SSN issuance is attributed to an alleged abuse of the asylum program [00:10:07]. The requirements for claiming asylum were “super opened” [00:10:10], with a four-page form historically used to prove credible fear of torture or murder by their home country being replaced by a four-question form with “super leading” questions [00:10:17]. This process allowed individuals who entered the country illegally to gain quasi-legal status by being issued an NTA, setting a court date typically six years out [00:11:30]. During this waiting period, they could file an asylum application, then a work authorization form (765), and subsequently receive an SSN automatically by mail without an interview [00:11:53].
Lack of Verification and Data Integrity
A critical concern is the lack of ID verification in this process [00:12:33]. Individuals presented various forms of ID, or sometimes none at all [00:12:40]. A disturbing finding was that the most common birth date recorded was January 1, suggesting that applicants simply provided a default date if actual documentation was unavailable or unknown [00:12:58]. Furthermore, 23% of records lacked fingerprints [00:13:18], indicating a breakdown in biometric data collection, potentially due to border agents being overwhelmed [00:13:23].
Strain on Border Agents
The surge in crossings had a severe human impact on border personnel, with Border Patrol and Border Protection reporting the highest suicide rates of all time during this period, exceeding 70 agents [00:13:31].
Downstream Consequences and Fraud
Issuing SSNs to non-citizens has significant downstream consequences for the U.S. [00:16:07]:
- Access to Benefits: Every benefit program examined was being accessed by these individuals [00:17:08]. For example, 1.3 million were on Medicaid [00:14:19], and others were found on unemployment benefits [00:17:13]. Those receiving benefits are not contributing to the system [00:17:18].
- Voter Registration and Voting: Thousands of non-citizens were found registered to vote in public voter rolls across a handful of states, and many had actually voted, which is a federal crime [00:14:31]. This is significantly higher than historical fraud cases identified by organizations like the Heritage Foundation [00:15:11].
- Criminality and Watchlists: Data shared with the National Targeting Center revealed “hardheads,” including criminals and individuals on terror watch lists, within this group [00:17:24].
- Human Trafficking: The system inadvertently created a “money magnet” that attracted individuals, leading to 13 to 15 billion dollars annually being paid to human traffickers [00:26:37]. Many migrants died en route, and some are subjected to debt servitude to pay off their travel costs [00:26:50].
Political and Economic Debates
Public Consensus vs. Policy
There is a wide consensus among the American population to stop illegal immigration policy and border security challenges, particularly at the southern border [00:21:57]. Many believe the border should be shut down, and all immigration should be legal [00:25:04].
Antonio, a former Democrat who has volunteered to assist the government, emphasizes that the issue is not political but a human rights tragedy [00:30:38]. He attributes the current problems to specific policies implemented by former administrators that “set all the defaults to kind of max open” with no ID requirements and open payment defaults [00:29:16].
Arguments for and Against Current Policies
Ben Shapiro suggests a logical approach to immigration policy based on whether an individual will benefit the United States [00:23:07]. This means prioritizing the removal of criminal illegal aliens and those who are a net draw on resources (e.g., receiving Medicaid or disability benefits under false asylum claims) [00:22:48]. He notes that the previous administration’s success in reducing border crossings was significant [00:22:11].
The idea that the Democratic party is motivated to increase its voter base through open immigration policies is a controversial claim [00:28:01]. While there are allegations of thousands of non-citizens registering and voting, critics argue that the impact on elections is minimal and that such claims often stem from misinterpretations of data [00:33:16]. However, the long-term demographic shift caused by immigration is a recognized phenomenon, with implications for future electoral outcomes [00:35:38].
Economic Impact and Skilled Workforce
The discussion also touches upon the broader US immigration and labor market dynamics. While some non-citizens are “taking out” of the system through benefits, others are employed and “paying in” [00:17:18]. A key part of US immigration policy and skilled workforce should be to attract brilliant people globally, including those with degrees from U.S. institutions, and allow them to stay and contribute to the entrepreneurial system [01:24:50].
The long-term implications of these policies, particularly the potential for a large state like California to shift political alignment due to immigration (referencing Ronald Reagan’s amnesty program), highlight the profound and often unintended consequences of immigration policies and labor market dynamics in the US [00:36:40].
Looking Forward
The ongoing efforts aim to identify criminals and terrorists, as well as those “mooching off the system” [02:08]. The next major push involves figuring out how to save money and find fraud [00:04:43]. The focus remains on data-driven truth to inform future policy decisions regarding who should be allowed to stay and who should be removed [00:25:50]. This includes prosecuting individuals found to have registered or voted illegally [00:14:50].