DOGE officials claim Biden-era immigration policies have placed over a million migrants on Medicaid rolls and thousands on voter registrations, raising concerns about the impact on U.S. healthcare systems and electoral integrity.

At a Glance

• DOGE official Antonio Gracias claims 1.3 million migrants are currently enrolled in Medicaid with many also appearing on voter rolls
• Claims that migrants can obtain Social Security numbers through quasi-legal status while awaiting court dates that may take six years or more
• Fact-checkers have disputed similar claims about DOGE discovering $2.7 trillion in improper healthcare payments
• Experts note it typically takes five years in green card status before immigrants can become citizens eligible to vote
• Under Biden’s administration, over 4.5 million removals, returns, and expulsions occurred from February 2021 to November 2024

DOGE Claims on Migrant Benefits and Voter Registration

Antonio Gracias, an official with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has made significant claims about migrants who entered the United States during the Biden administration. According to Gracias, approximately 1.3 million migrants are currently receiving Medicaid benefits, while thousands have allegedly been registered to vote, with some having participated in the 2024 presidential election. These assertions raise serious questions about both the financial impact on federal healthcare programs and potential electoral implications.

“We looked at voter rolls and we found that thousands are registered to vote in friendly states. And we looked even further in those friendly states and found that many of those people had actually voted. It was shocking to us. If I hadn’t seen this with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe it … it is shockingly bad.”, says Antonio Gracias.

Gracias explained the process by which migrants can obtain Social Security numbers, describing a path that begins with receiving Notices to Appear (NTAs) that grant a form of quasi-legal status while awaiting immigration court dates. He noted that this process typically involves filing asylum applications and work authorization forms without requiring thorough identification verification, potentially enabling access to benefits and services intended for legal residents.

Path to Documentation and Benefits

The DOGE official detailed how migrants entering during the Biden administration have been able to navigate the immigration system to obtain documentation. According to Gracias, migrants with Notices to Appear can submit asylum applications and subsequently apply for work authorization, which automatically generates Social Security numbers. This documentation then potentially facilitates access to various federal benefits programs, including Medicaid.

“So now you’re in the country with some quasi-legal status, you’re waiting for your court date, while you’re waiting for your court date — six years is the average by the way, it could be longer than that — you can fill out an asylum application, so without an interview, just an application … once that application is in, you can file another form, a 765 [form] to get work authorization, once you get that, you get a 766 which is the authorization and we automatically send you a Social Security card in the mail. No interview, that is the majority of the growth you see in these numbers.”, concludes Gracias.

Gracias also expressed concern that a significant portion of migrants were not fingerprinted by Border Patrol during processing, raising questions about proper identification and vetting procedures. He further claimed that among the migrants currently receiving Medicaid benefits, DOGE identified individuals with criminal backgrounds or matches on the federal Terrorist Watch List.

Fact-Checking Immigration and Voting Claims

Contrary to claims about migrants being registered to vote en masse, experts note significant barriers to non-citizens participating in federal elections. The Migration Policy Institute points out that immigrants must complete a multi-year process before gaining voting rights. Michelle Mittelstadt of the institute explained that even after obtaining legal status, immigrants face a lengthy path to citizenship.

“It takes on average five years in green card status before a person can become a U.S. citizen, so no one would instantly gain the right to vote”, says Michelle Mittelstadt

Additionally, data shows that during the Biden administration, immigration enforcement remained active, with over 4.5 million removals, returns, and expulsions from February 2021 to November 2024. Illegal immigration notably decreased after the implementation of a policy limiting asylum applications at the southwest border, contradicting narratives about open borders.

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— Drew Ponder (@drew_ponder) February 13, 2025

DOGE’s Role and Prior Claims

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), formed by President Trump and led by Elon Musk, has been at the center of several controversial claims about government waste and fraud. Previously, social media posts incorrectly attributed to DOGE the discovery of $2.7 trillion in fraudulent federal health insurance payments to overseas recipients. Fact-checkers determined this claim was false, noting the figure actually referred to improper payments reported by federal agencies since 2003 across various programs, not limited to healthcare.

While DOGE officials continue to highlight concerns about immigration’s impact on federal programs, independent analysts emphasize the importance of distinguishing between documented allegations and political narratives. The ongoing debates underscore the complex intersection of immigration policy, healthcare funding, and electoral systems that will likely remain central to political discussions in the coming years.