The IRS is close to finalizing a deal with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify migrants likely living in the U.S. illegally. This move aligns with President Donald Trump’s ongoing focus on stricter deportation policies.
Under the proposed agreement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would send names and addresses of suspected undocumented individuals to the IRS. The IRS would then confirm these details. Traditionally, the IRS keeps tax information private, and sharing this data with immigration authorities raises concerns about confidentiality.
The IRS has historically encouraged undocumented migrants to file taxes. This process requires them to provide their addresses, employers, and earnings, which makes their information accessible to the agency. According to a report from CNN, DHS wanted to obtain information on hundreds of thousands of individuals who are paying federal taxes using individual taxpayer identification numbers.
Privacy experts warn this scheme may violate stringent IRS disclosure laws, which protect taxpayer information from being shared indiscriminately. Recent reports suggest the draft agreement might be more limited than initially proposed. Now, the IRS would only confirm migrant addresses instead of sharing their information directly with ICE.
For this to happen, requests would have to come from high-level officials, such as DHS Secretary Kristi Noem or the acting ICE director Todd Lyons. They would need to include specific details like the taxpayer’s name and address, and the date of their removal order, allowing the IRS to validate the information.
These developments have prompted concern from immigrant rights groups. Recently, two organizations in Chicago took legal action against the Treasury Department and the IRS, asking a judge to prevent the agency from sharing taxpayer information with ICE or DHS. Their argument is that federal law prohibits the IRS from disclosing this data since ICE and DHS are not included in those allowed access under the tax code’s confidentiality rules.
This situation highlights a larger debate about privacy and government oversight in the context of immigration policy. Recent surveys indicate that a large portion of Americans is concerned about privacy rights in data-sharing agreements. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has also voiced concerns, stating that shared information could potentially lead to unjust deportations.
As the debate continues, the balance between enforcing immigration laws and protecting individual rights remains a hot topic in both political and social discussions. The evolving landscape of policies will be crucial in shaping how these issues unfold in the future.
For more insights on privacy and tax policies, you can refer to the ACLU’s resources on this topic here.
Check out this related article: Education Secretary Praises Columbia University’s Transformative Changes as Key to Restoring Funding
Source link