Judge refuses to block IRS from sharing tax data to identify people illegally in U.S.
A federal judge has denied a request to prevent the IRS from sharing tax data with ICE for identifying and deporting undocumented immigrants, marking a victory for the Trump administration's immigration enforcement strategy. The denial of the preliminary injunction, sought by nonprofit groups, emphasizes that undocumented immigrants who pay taxes are not accorded the same privacy protections as citizens or legal immigrants. The ruling has sparked concern among advocates who argue that the IRS-DHS data-sharing agreement violates privacy laws. The agreement is framed within the context of utilizing existing statutory tools for criminal investigations, as permitted by federal law, which allows some taxpayer information to be shared for enforcement purposes. The decision follows internal IRS upheaval and the resignation of the former acting commissioner over the controversial data-sharing policy, as the administration aims to intensify immigration crackdowns, including deportations and workplace raids.
Context:
A federal judge has denied a request to prevent the IRS from sharing tax data with ICE for identifying and deporting undocumented immigrants, marking a victory for the Trump administration's immigration enforcement strategy. The denial of the preliminary injunction, sought by nonprofit groups, emphasizes that undocumented immigrants who pay taxes are not accorded the same privacy protections as citizens or legal immigrants. The ruling has sparked concern among advocates who argue that the IRS-DHS data-sharing agreement violates privacy laws. The agreement is framed within the context of utilizing existing statutory tools for criminal investigations, as permitted by federal law, which allows some taxpayer information to be shared for enforcement purposes. The decision follows internal IRS upheaval and the resignation of the former acting commissioner over the controversial data-sharing policy, as the administration aims to intensify immigration crackdowns, including deportations and workplace raids.
Dive Deeper:
U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich refused a preliminary injunction to stop the IRS from sharing tax data with ICE, which is part of a broader Trump administration initiative to identify and deport undocumented immigrants.
The lawsuit, filed by nonprofit groups, argued that undocumented immigrants who pay taxes deserve the same privacy protections as U.S. citizens and legal immigrants, but the judge disagreed, citing existing legal frameworks.
The IRS has been under scrutiny and internal conflict due to the administration's decisions to share taxpayer data, leading to the resignation of a former acting commissioner amid controversy over the policy.
The Treasury Department defends the agreement with ICE as a measure to enforce President Trump's immigration agenda, which has included increased deportations and the use of historical laws to remove certain migrant groups.
Judge Friedrich's ruling clarified that the IRS can share information that aids criminal investigations, provided specific criteria are met, but taxpayer-exclusive data like complete tax returns remain protected.
Advocates claim the data-sharing agreement infringes on privacy rights and could potentially lead to broader privacy violations for all Americans, while the administration insists on its legality under current statutes.
The legal battle is ongoing, with plaintiffs considering further actions to challenge the ruling, emphasizing vigilance over future requests for taxpayer data to ensure compliance with legal boundaries.