We face the prospect of noncitizens showing up for appointments at Social Security being arrested by ICE on their way into or out of the office because the agency has tipped off ICE. AltSSA, an anonymous Blue Sky account, has analyzed some of the legal aspects of what’s going to happen.
1/21 OK we are gonna start with this story. This is gonna be long and a little nuanced so stick with me. There will be a lot in here that will address SSA employees directly so if you know an SSA employee, please share with them! And if you see any errors or gaps in my knowledge, please let me know!
https://www.wired.com/story/social-security-administration-appointment-details-ice/
2/21 First it’s important to point out that allowing this type of data sharing is not technically new. It has been rare, specific, and approved individually. Also reminder here that if an immigrant has an SSN, they were documented and legal at the time the SSN was issued. We verify it with DHS.
3/21 A lot of appts are by phone, but certain appts require we verify ID and/or legal status at the appt, so these are done in person. This includes applying for an SSN for the first time, or a replacement card if not a citizen, or applying for benefits if you are an immigrant who can (ie refugees).
4/21 Side note that requiring immigrants already on benefits (mostly refugees who are disabled or elderly) to reverify legal status in person when doing their periodic redetermination, even if we know the document they have has an expiration date in the future, is a new policy and not coincidental.
5/21 This is likely because the regime is doing things like terminating Temporary Protected Status for countries like Haiti, which is, by definition, creating undocumented immigrants who were documented and legal until they changed that. Because they are garbage meat sacks masquerading as humans. 🤬🤬
6/21 Anyway. Let’s talk about current policy around sharing data with law enforcement/DHS. Like many of our policies, you can view this online (see link). This policy was last updated 4/2025 so by this regime. It details that such requests are supposed to be in writing and meet specific criteria.
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0203313095
7/21 The specific criteria can be found here (secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms....) and here (secure https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0203312080) and they are very specific. Each request is supposed to be approved individually by the Office of Privacy and Disclosure within the Office of the General Counsel at SSA.
8/21 Now they do mention one other policy that allows for ad hoc requests by LEOs (https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0203312090....) which was updated in December 2025, but even that requires approval by the OPD and does not state an SSA employee can just give info to an ICE agent. It says the opposite actually.
9/21 So why did I do a policy deep dive? So it is crystal clear to everyone that this communication is being given verbally to specific offices only because they know this goes against our own policies and is almost certainly illegal on some level. This is not something we are allowed to do. Period. …
Have no problem with this.
ReplyDeleteIn other words, this “New Plan” means absolutely nothing to frontline workers who know their shit.
ReplyDeleteMorally, it think this is wrong but fiscally it make sense. I'm sorta torn but I believe we should follow the laws on the books and not permit this administration to pick and choose what laws they can disregard.
ReplyDeleteWe should all be concerned that there is a ICE plan to lure dangerous violent criminals into Social Security offices. That is who ICE (and the administration in general) is after, right? Noncitizens who are violent criminals?
ReplyDeleteAre we unconcerned with the safety of the other SSA visitors and the SSA employees? Will FPS be made aware, to beef up security when needed?
Who said they were luring them in? They aren't. They lure themselves in when scheduling an appointment.
DeletePoint 4/21 mentions redeterminations. We schedule those, not the customers.
DeleteEveryone should avoid SSA offices anyway. SSA is led by an admitted alcoholic (look it up) who seems to have relapsed hard, and has rendered the agency unable to serve the public much beyond answering the phone and giving out inaccurate information to callers.
ReplyDeleteBad policy to punish people for doing Social Securoty business.
ReplyDelete