| Published April 16, 2025
“America First” Returns: Trump Cracks Down on Noncitizen Abuse of Social Security and Welfare Benefits
In a move that underscores the return of “America First” governance, former President Donald Trump is once again making headlines—this time by targeting a long-overdue problem that has drained taxpayer dollars for years: fraud and abuse of U.S. entitlement programs by noncitizens.
On April 15, 2025, Trump announced plans to sign a presidential memorandum that would direct federal agencies to enforce existing laws more aggressively, ensuring that individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States are barred from accessing Social Security and other benefit programs funded by American taxpayers. Critics on the left have dismissed the action as “redundant,” but for millions of Americans, it signals a powerful return to common-sense governance.
A Longstanding Loophole
Despite claims that noncitizens are barred from receiving benefits, bureaucratic loopholes, sanctuary policies, and lack of federal oversight have created gray areas ripe for exploitation. Fraudulent documentation, abuse of children’s Social Security numbers, and lax verification standards have made it difficult to prevent illegitimate access to programs like Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Medicare, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Even the Social Security Administration (SSA) has previously admitted that payments have been made in error or under fraudulent circumstances—costing taxpayers millions annually.
Trump’s executive action would compel all federal agencies to audit their eligibility procedures and report on any program vulnerabilities being exploited by illegal immigrants or noncitizens. It would also establish inter-agency coordination to ensure that fraudulent claims are investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
“This is about fairness,” Trump stated. “We have seniors who’ve paid into the system their entire lives, and yet we allow people who are here illegally to defraud the very programs they didn’t contribute to. That ends now.”
A Clear Contrast With Biden’s Open-Border Welfare Policies
The move stands in sharp contrast to President Biden’s approach, which has encouraged expansive benefits for migrants and illegal entrants. Since Biden took office, the border crisis has escalated to unprecedented levels, with millions of migrants crossing illegally and overwhelming local governments, hospitals, and school systems.
Many states and cities, particularly those under Democratic leadership, have embraced sanctuary policies that effectively shield illegal immigrants from deportation—even when they are found to be committing fraud or other crimes.
In places like New York and California, state-funded benefit programs have already been extended to cover undocumented immigrants—including free healthcare, housing vouchers, and even taxpayer-funded legal defense against deportation. In many cases, these benefits are issued without the kind of identity verification required of ordinary American citizens.
“They want to give noncitizens a better safety net than our veterans get,” said one Trump supporter at a rally in Texas. “And we’re supposed to sit back and fund it with our tax dollars?”
Critics Cry Foul—but the Law Is Clear
Predictably, left-wing media outlets and progressive politicians have rushed to condemn the memorandum as unnecessary and politically motivated. MarketWatch and other liberal-leaning platforms argue that current laws already bar undocumented immigrants from receiving Social Security benefits.
But that’s the exact problem Trump is aiming to fix: enforcement.
Laws on paper are useless if they are not executed. And under the Biden administration, federal enforcement has been virtually non-existent. The Trump memorandum doesn’t change the law—it forces the government to follow it.
In an age where identity fraud, document falsification, and sanctuary protections have made a mockery of eligibility systems, Trump’s crackdown is a refreshing dose of accountability.
Putting Americans First—Again
Trump’s action is not just about restoring integrity to entitlement programs—it’s about restoring trust in government. Working-class Americans, especially those on fixed incomes, have watched their benefits stagnate or disappear while illegal immigrants receive free housing, healthcare, and now possibly welfare.
This move sends a clear message: under Trump, the American people come first.
And it’s resonating. Even moderate voters who may not consider themselves staunch conservatives are increasingly frustrated with what they see as a government more interested in rewarding lawbreaking than protecting its citizens.
As Trump’s campaign continues to gather momentum for 2028, his return to the issue of entitlement protection and border enforcement is not just strategic—it’s deeply principled.
Americans deserve a safety net that serves them—not a global welfare system that enables fraud and invites abuse.
SOURCES: THE DAILY IGNAL – White House Prepares to Go After Noncitizens Who Defraud Entitlement Programs
REUTERS – Trump to sign memorandum aimed at stopping ineligible people from claiming Social Security benefits
Karoline Leavitt Holds a White House Press Briefing – 4/15/25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOtLspcPdhA