crackdown on people who were legally allowed to live in the United States under programmes instituted by his predecessor. The move will make it much harder for affected immigrants to use banks or other basic services where Social Security numbers are required.

The White House says that “by removing the monetary incentive for illegal aliens to come and stay, we will encourage them to self-deport”. However, the affected individuals newly added to the Social Security Administration’s  ‘Death Master File’ are in the country legally. Immigrant advocates say the administration is committing “digital murder”. (Jamaica Gleaner/AP)