Key Takeaways:

• The Trump administration has added over 6,000 living immigrants to a database typically used for deceased individuals.
• This tactic effectively cancels their Social Security numbers, cutting off access to financial services and benefits.
• Officials claim this strategy is designed to encourage undocumented immigrants to "self-deport."

The Trump administration has recently changed the status of more than 6,000 immigrants with temporary legal status by adding their names to a database that classifies them as deceased. This significant action aims to cancel their Social Security numbers and restrict their ability to work or receive benefits, according to reports by The New York Times and others.

The initiative, described as an effort to pressure undocumented immigrants to leave the United States, has been informed by several documents and interviews with officials. Those impacted include migrants who entered the country under programs established during the Biden administration, necessitating urgent legal review and advocacy pushback against what some perceive as an abusive measure. More than 1,000 of the affected individuals are reportedly receiving benefits through Medicaid, with others engaged in unemployment programs or federal loans.

According to an Associated Press report, this action has raised serious concerns regarding its legality and broader implications for the targeted immigrant communities. Advocates warn that this policy effectively weaponizes the Social Security system against those who have previously established identities within the framework of U.S. financial and social systems, leading to untenable hardships.

Implementation of this strategy has reportedly involved the Social Security Administration's reclassification of its "death master file," now referred to informally as the "ineligible master file," to include living immigrants who are to be treated like the deceased. As Los Angeles Times details, the directive has taken urgency in light of broad immigration reform discussions amidst mounting political pressure on the administration.

While the administration asserts that this move aligns with enforcement promises aimed at curtailing illegal immigration, critics—ranging from lawmakers to social advocates—contend that this constitutes a drastic misapplication of Social Security resources and a violation of established legal protections for immigrants.

In the wake of this announcement, demands for accountability and legislative pushback are expected to escalate, with advocacy groups and lawmakers poised to challenge the administration's authority over changes to Social Security regulations. Questions about the ethical ramifications of using sensitive data in this manner remain at the forefront of the ongoing immigration reform debate.

For more details on the unfolding situation, see sources such as CBS News, HuffPost, and India Times.