Musk, Gracias claim millions of noncitizens issued Social Security Numbers

Elon Musk, alongside Antonio Gracias, claimed at a Wisconsin rally that the Biden administration has dramatically increased the issuance of Social Security numbers (SSNs) to noncitizens, alleging this is part of a strategy to alter U.S. electoral dynamics. They presented a chart suggesting that SSNs issued to noncitizens rose from 270,425 in 2021 to over 2 million in 2024, which they attributed to the Enumeration Beyond Entry (EBE) program. However, critics point out that the EBE program, initiated during the Trump administration, issues SSNs only to immigrants who have secured work authorization, and thus the claim that these individuals are 'illegals' is misleading. Furthermore, having an SSN does not equate to receiving public benefits or being registered to vote, as noncitizen SSNs are marked for work only. Experts emphasize that the program aims to streamline the process for legal immigrants, contradicting Musk and Gracias's assertions about a large-scale immigration manipulation. The controversy highlights the complex interplay between immigration policy and political narratives in the U.S.