Fact Check: Did Chuck Schumer say people come to the US illegally to defraud Social Security?

WASHINGTON, DC: A rumor has been circulating on social media platforms claiming that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY,  once said that the main reason why people illegally come to the United States is to defraud systems like Social Security, and "I want to stop it," sparking speculation. Let us analyze and fact-check the claim’s authenticity.

Claim: Chuck Schumer said people come to the US illegally to defraud Social Security

According to the viral claim, while serving as a member of the House of Representatives in 1996, Schumer said, “The No. 1 reason people come to the U.S. illegally is to defraud systems like Social Security, and I want to stop it.”

The alleged quote has been shared on multiple social media platforms, including Facebook, Reddit, and X, garnering hundreds of thousands of views.

Fact Check: False, Chuck Schumer never made such a statement

The claim, however, is false, as Schumer did not say it. The claim comes from comments Schumer made on the House floor on March 19, 1996, during a debate about immigration legislation. 

In his speech, he talked of employers needing Social Security cards when hiring workers before making the statement in question. 

"This is an anti-fraud amendment. All over where we go, people say, 'Well, why can't you stop illegal immigrants or others from coming here?'" Schumer continued, "And the No. 1 answer we give our constituents is, 'When they come here, they can get jobs, get benefits against the law, because of fraud.'" 

The context of Schumer’s remarks, like the comments made by the amendment’s sponsor, indicates that he was talking about immigrants using fake documents, such as counterfeit Social Security cards, to get jobs. 

He wasn’t claiming that the primary reason immigrants come to the United States is to commit Social Security fraud. The wording in the viral quote seems to have come from an X post published in April 2025, which reflected the user’s interpretation of Schumer’s comments instead of his actual statement. 

A search on Google helped to locate numerous posts containing the inauthentic Schumer quote pointing to the very popular X post from April 2025, which states, “1996: Chuck Schumer explains 'the number one reason' illegals come to the U.S. is so they can defraud programs like Social Security — and wants to stop it."