In a move that has raised major concerns, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials will now be able to access the personal data of 79 million Medicaid recipients, including their home addresses, ethnicities, and Social Security numbers. The decision follows a new agreement obtained by the Associated Press (AP) between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The agreement, signed on Monday, allows ICE to use CMS data to find “the location of aliens,” the document states.
Although it hasn’t been made public, the AP confirmed its details through official sources. Critics say this is an escalation in the Trump administration’s hard-line immigration policies.
Concerns Over Use of Health Data
Lawmakers, medical experts, and even some CMS staff have expressed strong concern over sharing such sensitive information with immigration officers. Many fear this could frighten families from seeking medical help, especially those in emergency situations.
An unnamed CMS official told AP, “They are trying to turn us into immigration agents.”
What Will ICE See?
According to the AP, ICE will be given limited access, only between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays, until September 9. However, during that time, agents can view:
According to the Trump administration, the goal is to prevent non-U.S. citizens from illegally accessing Medicaid benefits. HHS officials say the move is part of an effort to cut costs and ensure only eligible individuals receive benefits.
While U.S. law prohibits undocumented immigrants from joining Medicaid, states are required to offer Emergency Medicaid for life-saving treatments, regardless of immigration status.
Backlash From States and Lawmakers
This move follows a similar demand last month when the administration requested personal Medicaid data from seven Democratic-led states (California, New York, Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Minnesota, and Colorado) that offer Medicaid to non-citizens using state-only funding.
As a result, 20 states have sued, arguing that sharing this data violates federal privacy laws.
Lawmakers like Senator Adam Schiff have condemned the agreement, saying, “This massive violation of our privacy laws must be halted immediately.”
Internal Debate Among Officials
Emails obtained by the AP show deep division within government departments. CMS lawyers suggested waiting and consulting the Department of Justice (DOJ). However, HHS legal staff replied that DOJ was “comfortable” with the information-sharing going ahead.
CMS’s Official Stance
In response to criticism, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said, “HHS acted entirely within its legal authority... to ensure that Medicaid benefits are reserved for individuals who are lawfully entitled to receive them.”
Inputs from AP
The agreement, signed on Monday, allows ICE to use CMS data to find “the location of aliens,” the document states.
Although it hasn’t been made public, the AP confirmed its details through official sources. Critics say this is an escalation in the Trump administration’s hard-line immigration policies.
Concerns Over Use of Health Data
Lawmakers, medical experts, and even some CMS staff have expressed strong concern over sharing such sensitive information with immigration officers. Many fear this could frighten families from seeking medical help, especially those in emergency situations.
An unnamed CMS official told AP, “They are trying to turn us into immigration agents.”
What Will ICE See?
According to the AP, ICE will be given limited access, only between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays, until September 9. However, during that time, agents can view:
- Names
- Addresses
- Birth dates
- Racial and ethnic details
- Social Security numbers
According to the Trump administration, the goal is to prevent non-U.S. citizens from illegally accessing Medicaid benefits. HHS officials say the move is part of an effort to cut costs and ensure only eligible individuals receive benefits.
While U.S. law prohibits undocumented immigrants from joining Medicaid, states are required to offer Emergency Medicaid for life-saving treatments, regardless of immigration status.
Backlash From States and Lawmakers
This move follows a similar demand last month when the administration requested personal Medicaid data from seven Democratic-led states (California, New York, Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Minnesota, and Colorado) that offer Medicaid to non-citizens using state-only funding.
As a result, 20 states have sued, arguing that sharing this data violates federal privacy laws.
Lawmakers like Senator Adam Schiff have condemned the agreement, saying, “This massive violation of our privacy laws must be halted immediately.”
Internal Debate Among Officials
Emails obtained by the AP show deep division within government departments. CMS lawyers suggested waiting and consulting the Department of Justice (DOJ). However, HHS legal staff replied that DOJ was “comfortable” with the information-sharing going ahead.
CMS’s Official Stance
In response to criticism, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said, “HHS acted entirely within its legal authority... to ensure that Medicaid benefits are reserved for individuals who are lawfully entitled to receive them.”
Inputs from AP
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