In a recent rally, former President Donald Trump made a bold assertion that illegal immigration would "destroy" Social Security and Medicare, stating that the influx of undocumented immigrants is unsustainable for these entitlement programs. This statement has sparked significant controversy and debate, prompting fact-checkers to scrutinize its accuracy.
During his campaign speech, Trump warned that "Your Social Security will be destroyed by the people coming in. There's too many of them. It's not sustainable." This claim has been met with skepticism from various experts and fact-checking organizations, who argue that the relationship between immigration and Social Security is more complex than Trump suggests.
Biden: Trump wants to raise the age for Social Security and to cut Medicare.
Trump: No, I want to protect these plans for American citizens. Biden does not. He just let in 10 million illegal immigrants and has vowed to provide them all with free healthcare. pic.twitter.com/kZJNcRoU0x
— MAZE (@mazemoore) June 27, 2024
Contrary to Trump's claim, many experts believe that immigration can have a positive impact on Social Security. The Social Security Administration (SSA) notes that immigrants, including those who are undocumented, contribute to the Social Security system by paying payroll taxes, often without ever receiving benefits. This can help to bolster the program by increasing the worker-to-beneficiary ratio, which is essential for its financial sustainability.
Paul N. Van de Water, a specialist at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, explains that while immigration alone won't solve Social Security's long-term fiscal challenges, it can extend the program's solvency by adding more workers to the payroll tax base.
"Can Joe Biden explain why he's giving access to Medicare and Social Security to illegal immigrants instead of protecting our seniors?"
— Caroline Sunshine, Trump 2024 deputy communications director@CSUNSHINE @RobFinnertyUSA pic.twitter.com/d6qvNH2R55
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) June 21, 2024
Additionally, a report from the Bipartisan Policy Center states that immigrants generally have a positive effect on the financial health of Social Security, as they are often younger and thus contribute for many years before drawing benefits.
Trump's assertion that millions of immigrants from "jails, prisons, insane asylums, and mental institutions" are entering the U.S. has been rated as grossly exaggerated and misleading. PolitiFact rated this statement "Pants on Fire," indicating it is not only false but also a significant distortion of the truth. The Trump campaign has failed to provide evidence to support these claims, and federal data does not corroborate the existence of such large-scale, criminal immigration.
In response to backlash over his comments, Trump's campaign clarified that his references to cutting Social Security and Medicare pertained to eliminating waste and fraud within the programs, not cutting benefits directly.
This nuance is often lost in the heated rhetoric of campaign speeches, but it's a critical distinction that has been highlighted in follow-up interviews and statements from the Trump team.
