A Surging Cost to the American Taxpayer
Illegal immigrants are now claiming billions of dollars in U.S. benefits, according to Antonio Gracias, head of DOGE’s border team. His team recently uncovered shocking figures, revealing that 1.3 million non-citizens are currently enrolled in Medicaid. This costs taxpayers an estimated $6.5 billion annually.
Gracias shared these findings during an appearance on the All-In podcast. He said the data came to light while his team investigated a massive spike in the number of Social Security numbers (SSNs) assigned to non-citizens over the past few years.
The Jump in Social Security Numbers
In 2021, around 400,000 non-citizens received SSNs. By 2024, that number had exploded to over two million. Some of these recipients are legal immigrants—visa holders and green card applicants who contribute to the tax system.
However, Gracias emphasized that a large proportion are undocumented migrants. These individuals are receiving what he called “maximum pay and minimum collection” from U.S. programs.
“The defaults in the system,” Gracias explained, “are set to maximum inclusion and maximum payout for these people, with very little oversight.”
Minimal Vetting, Maximum Access
Gracias blamed current immigration policies for the spike. He specifically pointed to Biden-era expansions of asylum programs and the loose definitions of “Notices to Appear” (NTAs) as key issues.
“The vast majority of this growth is related to asylum programs and NTAs,” he said. “Requirements are so vague, more people can come through.”
He revealed that many non-citizens were given SSNs with minimal or no documentation. “Some showed IDs, some didn’t,” he said. “Even worse, 23 percent of the records we reviewed had no fingerprints at all.”
Gracias also flagged suspicious patterns in the data. One of the most common birthdates in the system was January 1st, which he said suggests either data manipulation or careless processing.
Beyond Medicaid: Voter Registration Concerns
The investigation didn’t just uncover Medicaid fraud. Gracias’ team found that some non-citizens were improperly registered to vote—a serious federal violation.
“Thousands of them registered… and many of them actually voted,” he said. “It was shocking. I wouldn’t have believed it unless I saw it myself.”
Gracias did not speculate on how widespread the voting issue is but warned that it poses a serious threat to election integrity.
A System Set Up for Abuse
Historically, SSNs were only granted to U.S. citizens. In 2003, that changed to allow non-citizens to obtain SSNs, primarily to ensure foreign workers paid taxes. But according to Gracias, the system has since been exploited.
“While some people, like Afghan translators, came in legally,” he said, “the biggest growth is from asylum expansions and lack of proper checks.”
Gracias warned that what his team has found so far is only a portion of the total problem.
The Bigger Picture
“These numbers are just the tip of the iceberg,” he said. “We’re still analyzing the data, but much more needs to be done.”
Gracias stressed that this is not about politics. “This isn’t a partisan issue. It’s about protecting America’s systems and taxpayers,” he said.
As the border continues to face pressure, Gracias is calling for urgent reform. He wants tighter controls on how SSNs are issued and stricter eligibility checks for public benefits.
A Wake-Up Call for Oversight
The findings from DOGE’s border team have raised serious questions about oversight, immigration enforcement, and public resource management. With billions of taxpayer dollars at stake, Gracias is urging lawmakers to take action.
“This is about America,” he said. “And the longer we wait, the worse it gets.”
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