ICE Gains Access to Medicaid Data, Sparking Outrage and Privacy Concerns
By Associated Press, Washington
In a move that has sparked widespread alarm among civil rights advocates, lawmakers, and healthcare professionals, the Trump administration has authorized Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to access the The agreement—signed quietly this week between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—grants ICE unprecedented insight into people’s home addresses, ethnic backgrounds, and health-related data in what officials say is a measure to identify undocumented immigrants.
The decision marks a dramatic escalation in the administration’s crackdown on immigration and is already raising serious ethical, legal, and humanitarian concerns.
A Secretive Agreement With Far-Reaching ImpactThe agreement, obtained exclusively by The Associated Press, allows ICE to use the data to locate “the location of aliens” across the United States. While the administration has not made the agreement public, internal documents confirm the data will be used in deportation operations.
Critics say this level of surveillance, particularly using sensitive health records, represents a dangerous breach of privacy and a betrayal of public trust—particularly for vulnerable communities who rely on government programs like Medicaid.
“This is not just about data. It’s about fear,” said Dr. Marisol Rivera, a family physician in Arizona who treats immigrant patients. “Families are already afraid to seek care. Now, they have to wonder if signing up for Medicaid means ICE could come knocking.”
A Tool for Deportation, Not HealthThough officials at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) originally claimed the effort was meant to ensure people weren’t improperly enrolled in Medicaid, the agreement makes it clear that ICE intends to use the data for deportation enforcement—not fraud prevention.
ICE has reportedly sought to arrest as many as 3,000 people per day, a target that critics say has prompted increasingly aggressive tactics from the agency—including, now, tapping into federal healthcare records.
“This weaponizes the healthcare system,” said Rep. “It creates a chilling effect on people seeking life-saving care. No one should be afraid that going to the doctor might lead to deportation.”
Even within the federal government, there is discomfort. Some CMS officials have privately raised concerns about whether the agreement is legal, particularly in states that have privacy laws protecting residents’ health data.
“This is a gross overreach,” one CMS official told AP under condition of anonymity. “We’ve never shared this kind of sensitive data with a law enforcement agency in this way. And we shouldn’t.”
Already, several states—California, New York, and Massachusetts among them—are reviewing whether they can block ICE from accessing their Medicaid data.
Real People, Real FearsFor many, the implications are personal.
Carla Mendoza, a 29-year-old mother of two living in Texas, has been on Medicaid since her first pregnancy. When she heard about the agreement, her first thought wasn’t legal—it was maternal.
“What if they come looking for him because of my file?” she asked, holding her toddler. “Should I stop going to the clinic? Should I take my children off Medicaid? I don’t know what’s safe anymore.”
Immigrant rights advocates say these kinds of dilemmas are becoming increasingly common as the administration continues to blur the lines between public service and immigration enforcement.
A Pattern of TargetingThe Trump administration has repeatedly tested the boundaries of what’s legal or acceptable in pursuit of tougher immigration policies. From separating families at the border to limiting asylum eligibility, the White House has often used obscure rules and regulatory levers to achieve its goals—even in areas like healthcare that were traditionally off-limits.
“This is part of a pattern,” said Jorge Elorza, a policy analyst with the Migration Policy Institute. “They know people are afraid. And fear keeps people from accessing healthcare, from sending their kids to school, from trusting public institutions. That’s the point.”
Calls for OversightLawmakers in both the House and Senate are calling for urgent oversight. A bipartisan group of senators has requested a briefing on the scope and legality of the data-sharing arrangement, and the House Oversight Committee is reportedly preparing to issue subpoenas if the administration does not provide more information.
“This agreement was made in the shadows,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). “That alone should alarm every American. It’s time for transparency—and accountability.”
As the political and legal battles unfold, millions of Medicaid enrollees—many of whom are children, elderly, or low-income—are left in a state of confusion and fear.
“This is not how a country should treat people who rely on it for care,” said Dr. Rivera. “We should be building trust, not breaking it.”