Social Security Numbers may be a Tricky Issue for Some Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Applicants

Those who apply for benefits under the President's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program may face a tricky question when it comes to completing the application forms.  Both the form I-821D and the I-765 ask for the applicant's Social Security number.  The issue is that for many who have been residing in this country without legal immigration status, they may likely have been working illegally as well.  In some instances, in order to get the work, they may have been using a fake Social Security number.

As if anticipating this problems, the USCIS Frequently Asked Questions website comments that applicants are to disclose only the official Social Security number issued to the applicant by the Social Security Administration.  That is, disclose only your own Social Security number, and not any other number you may have been using in order to obtain work.

The potential trap here is that if a person uses a Social Security number that belongs to someone else, and does so knowing that the number belongs to someone else, they that amounts to the crime of aggravated identity theft.  If your application for deferred action reveals information showing that you committed aggravated identity theft, then it is very likely that USCIS will refer your case to ICE for possible removal proceedings.

Those who have used other Social Security numbers need to be very careful if they choose to apply for deferred action.  Your best bet is to consult with a lawyer to make sure you are aware of the risks. 

I go into more detail about Social Security numbers and deferred action in this article.

By:  William J. Kovatch, Jr.
(703) 837-8832
info@kovatchimmigrationlaw.com