A new Donald Trump campaign ad claims that if Hillary Clinton becomes president that illegal immigrants would be able to collect Social Security benefits playing into Trump’s strong stance on immigration. The only problem with the ad, which is in concert with most things about Trump, is that it is untrue or at the very least extremely misleading.
As the Washington Post points out in this story, the assertion that Clinton would allow illegal immigrants to collect Social Security focuses on two programs, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA).
Right now those falling under DAPA and DACA are lawfully present in the country and can apply for a Social Security number once they receive work permits and once they work they would earn Social Security and Medicare credits through payroll taxes, meaning they would be paying their taxes to qualify like any other American citizen.
Collecting Social Security benefits is not all that easy for illegal immigrants to do. Unauthorized immigrants, who are not grated deferred-action status, are not eligible to receive Social Security benefits, but these people do pay taxes into the Social Security system and get nothing out, so they are benefiting everyone who receives Social Security benefits. It is estimated unauthorized immigrants paid about $12 billion into Social Security in 2010. The idea that illegal immigrants are not contributing to society and are accessing government benefits is completely false, it’s actually just the opposite. They are paying taxes into the government without getting any access to benefits like Social Security.
As the weeks go by it will be interesting to see where the presidential debate goes in terms of Social Security and how large of a role it will play in the platforms of the two candidates.
