6,000 living immigrants listed as ‘deceased’ by Trump administration to force self deportation

In a shocking move, the Trump administration has reportedly classified more than 6,000 living immigrants as ‘deceased’, thereby stripping them of their legal Social Security numbers (SSNs) and cutting them off from vital services. This measure, aimed at encouraging self-deportation, has left many affected individuals in limbo, without access to basic financial and social systems in the US.

The immigrants targeted under this action were previously granted temporary legal status through policies introduced during President Joe Biden’s administration. They were legally issued Social Security numbers — a unique nine-digit identifier used to access work authorisation, track earnings, and contribute to Social Security — along with temporary working and residential rights.

By revoking their SSNs, the administration has effectively removed access to banking, credit, housing, and other critical services. Many immigrants now face extreme difficulty navigating daily life and are being pressured to leave the country voluntarily.

On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) further escalated the crackdown by revoking the legal status of thousands of immigrants who had used the CBP One app — a digital platform that previously allowed them to remain in the US for up to two years with work authorisation under Biden-era policies. These individuals are now expected to self-deport.

However, not all enforcement efforts have proceeded unchallenged. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from ordering the removal of hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, who were granted temporary protection under Biden.

In a related and controversial development, the Department of Homeland Security and the Treasury Department signed an agreement allowing tax information to be shared with immigration enforcement agencies. Under this deal, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would cross-reference the tax records of immigrants suspected of residing illegally in the US. The deal sparked immediate backlash, leading to the resignation of Acting IRS Commissioner Melanie Krause, who reportedly opposed the potential misuse of sensitive taxpayer data.

Adding to the legal turmoil, a federal judge also blocked a team reportedly led by billionaire Elon Musk from accessing Social Security databases containing personal data of millions of Americans, describing their efforts as a “fishing expedition” that posed a serious privacy risk.

The Trump administration’s aggressive crackdown on immigration continues to face growing legal, ethical, and constitutional challenges, raising questions about the balance between enforcement and civil liberties.