Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Prevents Illegal Aliens from Obtaining Social Security Act Benefits

4/15/2025

Fact Sheets

View Original

Action Summary

Objective: Prevent illegal aliens and other ineligible individuals from obtaining benefits under the Social Security Act.
Enforcement Measures: Directs agencies to issue guidance and prioritize enforcement against grantees/subgrantees that do not verify eligibility or stop payments to deceased/ineligible beneficiaries.
Fraud Prevention Enhancements: Expands the SSA’s fraud prosecutor program to at least 50 U.S. Attorney Offices and establishes a Medicare and Medicaid fraud-prosecution program in 15 U.S. Attorney Offices.
Identity Theft and Data Integrity: Requires the SSA Inspector General to investigate earnings reports for individuals aged 100 or older with mismatched SSA records.
Potential Reinstatement of Penalties: Directs the SSA to consider reinstating civil monetary penalties for individuals committing Social Security fraud.
Fiscal Responsibility: Emphasizes that taxpayer-funded benefits must be provided only to eligible persons, citing concerns over costs imposed by illegal immigration.
Context and Previous Actions: Builds on earlier Executive Orders to remove incentives for illegal immigration, including stopping benefits for thousands with criminal records or terrorist ties and promoting a self-deportation option through the CBP Home app.

Risks & Considerations

The Presidential Memorandum aims to prevent illegal aliens from obtaining Social Security Act benefits, which could lead to increased scrutiny and enforcement actions. This may impact Vanderbilt University if any of its programs or partnerships are found to be non-compliant with the new verification requirements.
The expansion of fraud prosecution programs could result in heightened legal and compliance risks for institutions that receive federal funding, including universities. Vanderbilt may need to ensure that its processes for verifying eligibility for federal benefits are robust and compliant with the new directives.
The focus on preventing fraud and identity theft may require Vanderbilt to review its data management and security practices, particularly if it involves handling sensitive information related to Social Security benefits.
There is a potential risk of reputational damage if the university is perceived as not adequately preventing ineligible individuals from accessing federal benefits, which could affect its standing with federal agencies and the public.

Impacted Programs

Vanderbilt’s Financial Aid Office may need to implement stricter verification processes for students receiving federal aid to ensure compliance with the new Memorandum.
The Office of Legal Affairs might need to provide additional guidance and support to ensure that all university departments are aware of and comply with the new requirements.
Research programs that rely on federal funding may need to reassess their eligibility verification processes to avoid potential disruptions or penalties.

Financial Impact

The increased enforcement of eligibility verification could lead to additional administrative costs for Vanderbilt as it implements new processes and systems to comply with the Memorandum.
There may be a risk of reduced federal funding if the university is found to be non-compliant with the new directives, which could impact its financial stability and ability to support students and research initiatives.
Vanderbilt may need to allocate resources to ensure compliance with the new fraud prevention measures, potentially diverting funds from other areas of the university.

Relevance Score: 3 (The Memorandum presents moderate risks involving compliance and potential legal issues for the university.)

Key Actions

Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations should monitor changes in Social Security Act benefits and immigration policies to assess potential impacts on students and staff who may be affected by these changes. This will help the university provide timely support and guidance to those impacted.
The Vanderbilt Law School could explore opportunities to engage in research and advocacy related to immigration law and policy changes. By analyzing the implications of these executive actions, the law school can contribute to the national dialogue and provide valuable insights to policymakers.
Vanderbilt’s Financial Aid Office should evaluate the potential impact of these changes on students who may be affected by immigration status issues. This includes assessing financial aid needs and ensuring that support systems are in place for students who may face challenges due to these policy shifts.
The Vanderbilt Center for Health Policy should consider conducting research on the broader implications of changes to Medicare and Medicaid fraud-prosecution programs. This research can provide insights into how these changes might affect healthcare access and delivery for vulnerable populations.
Vanderbilt’s Public Policy Studies Program should analyze the economic and social impacts of the Memorandum on local and state budgets. This analysis can inform discussions on how to address the fiscal challenges posed by changes in immigration and social security policies.

Opportunities

The executive actions present an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Immigration Law Clinic to expand its services and support for individuals affected by changes in immigration policy. By providing legal assistance and advocacy, the clinic can play a crucial role in helping affected individuals navigate these changes.
Vanderbilt can leverage its expertise in public policy and law to host forums and discussions on the implications of these executive actions. By bringing together experts, policymakers, and community members, Vanderbilt can facilitate informed discussions and contribute to shaping future policy directions.
The focus on fraud prevention in Social Security programs offers an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Data Science Institute to engage in research on fraud detection and prevention technologies. By developing innovative solutions, the institute can contribute to improving the integrity of social security systems.

Relevance Score: 4 (The executive actions require major process changes and present opportunities for Vanderbilt to engage in research, advocacy, and support for affected individuals.)

Average Relevance Score: 2.8

Timeline for Implementation

N/A: No specific deadlines or implementation timelines are provided; the memorandum only describes directives without setting a compliance period.

Relevance Score: 1

Impacted Government Organizations

Social Security Administration (SSA): Directly tasked with ensuring that ineligible aliens do not receive benefits under the Social Security Act and with expanding its fraud prevention programs.
SSA Inspector General: Ordered to investigate irregularities in earnings reports and potential identity theft cases, strengthening internal oversight.
U.S. Attorney Offices (DOJ): At least 50 offices are to be involved in the SSA fraud prosecutor program—with an additional 15 offices dedicated to a Medicare and Medicaid fraud-prosecution program—indicating enhanced cross-agency enforcement efforts.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP): Related to the launch of the CBP Home app, which offers illegal aliens the option to self-deport, tying immigration and border enforcement to the memorandum’s objectives.

Relevance Score: 2 (Several key agencies are impacted, totaling between 3 and 5.)

Responsible Officials

Social Security Administration (SSA) – Responsible for ensuring that ineligible aliens do not receive Social Security Act benefits, including enforcing eligibility verification and considering the reinstatement of civil monetary penalties.
SSA Inspector General – Tasked with investigating earnings reports for individuals aged 100 or older with mismatched records to combat identity theft and fraud.
U.S. Attorney Offices – Designated to expand fraud prosecution efforts by including at least 50 offices for Social Security fraud and 15 offices for Medicare and Medicaid fraud-prosecution programs.

Relevance Score: 4 (Directives impact agency heads responsible for enforcing Social Security Act program integrity and fraud prosecution).