However, according to former SSA Commissioner Martin O'Malley, in a March 31, 2025 interview with Rolling Stone, the numbers increased as a
result of the number of lawfully admitted immigrants increasing.<ref>{{citation |url=https://archive.today/20250401075541/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/musk-trump-immigrants-social-security-numbers-1235307351/#selection-1903.2-1906.0:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20number%20of%20immigrants%20enumerated%20during%20the%20Biden%20administration%20increased%20because%20the%20number%20of%20lawfully%20admitted%20immigrants%20increased%2C%E2%80%9D%20O%E2%80%99Malley%20says. |title=Musk Blames Dems for Trump Giving Immigrants Social Security Numbers | archive-url=https://archive.today/20250401075541/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/musk-trump-immigrants-social-security-numbers-1235307351/#selection-1903.2-1906.0:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20number%20of%20immigrants%20enumerated%20during%20the%20Biden%20administration%20increased%20because%20the%20number%20of%20lawfully%20admitted%20immigrants%20increased%2C%E2%80%9D%20O%E2%80%99Malley%20says. | archive-date=2025-04-01}}</ref> That, in addition to the expansion of the program
to include naturalization applicants under Form N-400, explains the increase, according to Snopes.
