Newly released figures from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) reveal that close to four million non-citizens were issued Social Security Numbers (SSNs) while Joe Biden was in office—raising serious questions about the security and oversight of U.S. benefit systems. The report tracks a dramatic increase in SSNs issued to individuals who crossed the border illegally or without legal status but received temporary work authorization while their asylum cases were pending.
The federal program that enabled this surge allowed migrants to receive a work authorization document approximately five months after applying for asylum. With that document, individuals were permitted to work in the United States, often years before their immigration status was formally adjudicated. According to DOGE findings, many then received their SSNs by mail with no interviews or verification steps. “The immigration department mailed them a social security number. No interview. No proof of identity, just put it in the mail,” reported Stuart Varney on Fox Business.
The year-over-year numbers reveal an extraordinary spike. In 2021, 270,425 non-citizens received SSNs. That figure more than doubled in 2022 to 590,193. In 2023, it climbed again to 964,163. But the most alarming increase came in 2024, Biden’s final year in office, when over 2 million non-citizens—2,095,247—were issued SSNs. Altogether, 3,920,028 non-citizens received Social Security Numbers over the course of Biden’s presidency.
????ASTONISHING NUMBERS????
NON-CITIZEN Social Security numbers issued over the past four years:
270,425 in 2021.
590,193 in 2022.
964,163 in 2023.
2,095,247 in 2024. ????
“DOGE found that immigration gave a work authorization document to illegals just five months after they… pic.twitter.com/MXgU1sxRJ0
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 8, 2025
The DOGE report also notes a broader trend of government benefits being extended to undocumented individuals. More than 1.3 million non-citizens are now enrolled in Medicaid. In addition, many were granted driver’s licenses, and some were even registered to vote. DOGE stated that there is evidence that some of those individuals did in fact vote, though it remains unclear how widespread that issue is.
Critics argue that such policies risk overwhelming social safety nets and diluting the legitimacy of government-issued benefits. “Try and square that against Democrat claims that Musk is destroying Social Security and cutting Medicaid,” Varney said. “He’s not destroying, he’s weeding out people who don’t qualify. Who is really guilty of misinformation in this case? It is not Elon Musk.”
The core issue raised by these findings is not just about immigration—it’s about accountability, transparency, and national cohesion. Programs intended for American citizens and lawful residents are being extended to those who entered the country illegally, often without proper documentation. The consequences include increased burdens on healthcare and welfare systems, potential abuse of voting rights, and erosion of public trust in federal institutions. While the debate over immigration policy continues, data like this fuels the argument that American systems are being mismanaged at the expense of the people they were designed to serve.
