DOGE: Biden’s Migration Put Illegals On Voter Rolls

Person holding a whistle on a red lanyard.

DOGE officials claim Biden’s migration policies have placed over a million illegal immigrants on Medicaid rolls and thousands on voter rolls, with some allegedly having voted in the 2024 presidential election.

Key Takeaways

DOGE official Antonio Gracias reports finding 1.3 million migrants on Medicaid and thousands registered to vote in certain states
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk under President Trump, has been investigating benefits obtained by migrants who entered under Biden’s policies
According to DOGE, migrants can obtain Social Security numbers through asylum applications without identity verification
Immigration experts dispute these allegations, noting the significant legal barriers preventing non-citizens from voting in federal elections
Previous claims about improper payments in federal programs have been mischaracterized in reporting about DOGE’s findings

DOGE Investigation Findings on Migrants and Benefits

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established by President Donald Trump and headed by Elon Musk, has released concerning findings about migrants who entered the United States during the Biden administration. According to Antonio Gracias, a DOGE official, approximately 1.3 million migrants who entered the country during Biden’s term are currently receiving Medicaid benefits. The investigation also claims to have discovered thousands of these migrants on voter rolls in certain states, with evidence suggesting some participated in the 2024 presidential election.

Gracias detailed the process by which migrants can obtain Social Security numbers, explaining that those who receive Notices to Appear (NTAs) can remain in the country with “quasi-legal status” while awaiting immigration court dates. This waiting period can extend beyond six years, during which migrants can file asylum applications and work authorization forms that automatically trigger the issuance of Social Security cards—allegedly without proper identification verification.

“We mapped this through the benefit programs, we found every benefits program that is being accessed by these people, 1.3 million are on Medicaid right now, today. And by the way, it’s just ramping up, it’s just starting,” said Antonio Gracias during the DOGE briefing.

Voter Registration Concerns and Political Implications

The most controversial aspect of the DOGE findings involves allegations about non-citizens being registered to vote. Gracias stated that the investigation revealed thousands of migrants are registered on voter rolls in what he termed “friendly states,” with evidence suggesting some actually voted in recent elections. This claim has ignited debate about the integrity of the electoral system and raised questions about whether the previous administration’s immigration policies may have had political motivations.

“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,” Garcias said.

Gracias suggested that the pattern of migration and subsequent voter registration could be part of a deliberate strategy to alter the political landscape, pointing to California’s shift in political alignment following past amnesty programs as an example. Musk has supported this perspective, previously suggesting that potentially millions of undocumented immigrants secured Social Security numbers during the Biden administration, creating a pathway to benefits and potentially voting rights.

Disputed Claims and Immigration Policy Reality

Immigration experts have challenged DOGE’s allegations, emphasizing the significant legal barriers preventing non-citizens from voting in federal elections. Critics point out that it typically takes at least five years with legal permanent resident status before an immigrant can become a naturalized citizen eligible to vote. The Migration Policy Institute notes that “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.”

Data from the Department of Homeland Security shows that the Biden administration conducted over 4.5 million removals, returns, and expulsions between February 2021 and November 2024. Immigration policy analysts note that Biden actually increased enforcement measures during the election year, implementing policies that limited asylum applications at the southwest border and led to significant decreases in illegal border crossings. These actions appear to contradict the narrative that the administration was deliberately facilitating illegal immigration for political gain.

Broader Concerns About Government Benefits

Beyond the voter registration concerns, DOGE’s findings have highlighted broader questions about the strain on government benefit programs. The organization reports that among the migrants receiving Medicaid benefits, some have criminal backgrounds or match names on the federal government’s Terrorist Watch List. These revelations add to concerns about vetting procedures and the security implications of large-scale migration. Some DOGE officials also expressed alarm about the potential fiscal impact on programs like Medicaid, which was not designed to accommodate such a rapid increase in enrollment.

“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,” explained Garcias.

The Trump administration has indicated that the DOGE findings will inform future policy decisions regarding immigration enforcement, benefit program eligibility verification, and voter registration protocols. As investigations continue, the debate over the intersection of immigration policy, public benefits, and electoral integrity remains at the forefront of national discourse.