How deep does the rabbit hole go when it comes to immigration and asylum in the United States? The recent DOGE team, along with Elon Musk and Antonio Gracias, has unveiled the proverbial tip of the iceberg, exposing a catastrophic failure of our asylum system under the Biden administration. It’s time we recognize the scale and urgency of this crisis and demand action that aligns with the core American values of justice, sovereignty, and security.
First, let’s get to the heart of the problem. Under our current system, asylum seekers can receive work authorization just five months after filing for asylum, not when their claims are validated. That’s a glaring issue because it incentivizes fraudulent asylum applications as a backdoor to legal work authorization. No fee and practically no oversight—it’s an open invitation for abuse. The system is essentially handing out Social Security numbers, opening the gates to driver’s licenses, and clearing the path for potential voter fraud. It’s this unchecked and unregulated corridor that leads us to the brink of a national security nightmare.
Let’s talk numbers. Thanks to this rampant issue, the number of Social Security numbers issued to non-citizens has surged—270,000 in 2021 up to an astonishing 2.1 million by 2024. And it’s not just numbers. It’s the ripple effects that come with them. Millions of these applicants are tapping into Medicaid, with some even registered to vote and, horror of horrors, actually voting. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can’t keep pace, opting instead for an administrative sleight of hand by extending work authorizations from six to eighteen months without checks.
It’s a fundamental breach of accountability, one where the administration’s solution to bureaucracy-induced backlog is to allow more unrestricted access to U.S. benefits and enterprise for those who may not have earned it. This operational negligence isn’t just a bureaucratic hiccup—it’s a hijacking of our legal systems and a betrayal of the American people’s trust.
Congress must reclaim its authority and restore the immigration asylum system to its original intent: protecting genuine refugees from persecution. The legislative body needs to act decisively to tighten immigration benefits criteria, ensuring work authorizations are only granted when asylum claims are substantiated. They should also implement stringent anti-fraud measures to deter and penalize those exploiting the system—a measure that will also accelerate processing times for legitimate claims.
Beyond Congress, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) must take immediate steps to scrutinize historical applications within DHS and the DOJ to excise fraud from these systems. It’s a more than manageable task but one requiring commitment and rigorous oversight. DOGE should also institute a coordinated notification system that would alert relevant agencies and employers if an asylum claim or work authorization is denied, enforcing compliance and minimizing misuse of our resources.
What hangs in the balance is not just the integrity of our borders but the sovereignty of our nation. American taxpayers and citizens deserve an immigration system that prioritizes their security and prosperity, not one that leaves its backdoor ajar for exploitation. The alarm has been sounded; it’s time for Congress and watchdogs like DOGE to decide whether they will let America remain a beacon of genuine refuge or if they will relegate it to a haven of unchecked exploitation.
American exceptionalism stems not from an open-door policymaking that favors system abusers but from vigilant, responsible governance that secures our borders while honoring our legacy as a land of opportunity. The answer lies in decisive action today, securing our laws for a safer and genuinely welcoming tomorrow.