IRS Shares Taxpayer Data with ICE to Locate Undocumented Immigrants

IRS Shares Taxpayer Data with ICE

40,000 People Under Investigation

Privacy Concerns Spark Backlash

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has begun sharing confidential taxpayer information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to identify and locate undocumented immigrants.

According to CNN, the collaboration includes personal and financial details — such as names, addresses, and Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) — to help track down migrants facing deportation orders.

IRS Shares Confidential Data with ICE

IRS Shares Taxpayer Data with ICE to Locate Undocumented Immigrants – PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

The Agreement Behind the Data Sharing

This data exchange was formalized in April, when the Treasury Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) signed an agreement granting ICE access to information on immigrants who, according to DHS, already have deportation orders and are under criminal investigation.

Following the measure, several high-ranking officials within the agencies involved resigned or were removed, including IRS Commissioner Billy Long, the most recent to step down.

Sources familiar with the matter told CNN that the arrangement began after a push from the Trump administration, despite legal and ethical concerns over taxpayer privacy.

In one of ICE’s first actions, the agency sent the IRS a list of 40,000 individuals it wanted to locate. Within days, the IRS identified several taxpayers using ITINs in their tax filings.

Criticism Over Privacy Violations

Immigrant rights organizations and attorneys representing those affected have condemned the policy, saying the IRS is failing to uphold its duty to protect taxpayer confidentiality.

They argue that granting ICE access to this data allows the agency to locate immigrants without obtaining a court order.

Related: “Trojan Horse” Raid: Federal Agents Detain 16 Migrants at Los Angeles Home Depot

Beyond privacy concerns, critics warn this could lead to large-scale deportations without proper legal safeguards.

CNN also reported that the Trump administration has requested information on more than one million individuals suspected of living in the U.S. without legal status — suggesting this cooperation could expand significantly.

Impact on Undocumented Immigrants in the U.S.

The policy has created uncertainty and fear among immigrants, especially those who have trusted the tax system to meet their obligations.

Many worry that using personal data for immigration enforcement could discourage compliance with tax laws.

Experts warn the move risks eroding public trust in the IRS and damaging its relationship with immigrant communities.

What’s your opinion on the IRS decision to share this data with ICE? Do you believe taxpayer privacy is being put at risk?

Source: El Diario