
IRS and ICE Sign Data Sharing Agreement on Undocumented Immigrants
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have signed a new data-sharing agreement aimed at identifying and tracking undocumented immigrants in the United States. The deal, announced on April 8, 2025, allows ICE to access taxpayer information from the IRS to aid in immigration enforcement efforts.
The agreement has sparked significant controversy and concern among immigrant rights advocates and privacy experts. Critics argue that the deal could deter undocumented immigrants from filing taxes, fearing that their personal information could be used against them in deportation proceedings. The move is seen as a continuation of policies from the Trump administration aimed at tightening immigration enforcement.
The IRS has stated that the data sharing will be conducted within the boundaries of existing laws and regulations, emphasizing that the information will be used solely for immigration enforcement purposes. However, the specifics of how the data will be used and protected remain a point of contention.
Immigrant rights groups are preparing to challenge the agreement in court, arguing that it violates privacy rights and could have a chilling effect on tax compliance among immigrant communities. The development marks a significant escalation in the use of government data for immigration enforcement and is likely to fuel ongoing debates about privacy, security, and immigrant rights in the U.S.