Judge Upholds Trump’s Plan to Use IRS Data in Immigration Enforcement
In a significant legal victory for the Trump administration, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich ruled on Monday that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may share certain taxpayer data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to aid in identifying and deporting individuals residing in the United States illegally. The decision denies a preliminary injunction sought by several nonprofit organizations that argued the data-sharing agreement violated taxpayer confidentiality laws.
Judge Friedrich, appointed by President Trump in 2017, concluded that the memorandum of understanding between the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does not breach the Internal Revenue Code. She emphasized that the agreement utilizes “statutorily authorized tools” for criminal investigations and maintains existing protections for taxpayer information.
Under the agreement, ICE can submit names and addresses of individuals suspected of violating deportation orders or engaging in criminal activity to the IRS. The IRS may then confirm whether the provided information matches existing tax records. Importantly, the IRS is restricted from sharing information obtained exclusively from taxpayer filings, such as full tax returns, unless independently sourced.
The Trump administration has framed this initiative as a necessary step to enhance inter-agency cooperation and enforce immigration laws effectively. Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs, stated, “Information sharing across agencies is essential to identify who is in our country and determine what public safety and terror threats may exist so we can neutralize them, scrub these individuals from voter rolls, as well as identify what public benefits these aliens are using at taxpayer expense.”
Critics, however, express concern that this move could deter undocumented immigrants from filing taxes, potentially reducing tax compliance and revenue. Historically, the IRS has encouraged all workers, regardless of immigration status, to file taxes using Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs), assuring them of confidentiality. This policy shift may undermine that trust.
The decision has also sparked internal dissent within the IRS. Acting IRS Commissioner Melanie Krause resigned last month in apparent protest of the data-sharing agreement, following the earlier resignation of her predecessor, Doug O’Donnell, over similar concerns. Legal experts within the IRS have argued that the agreement likely violates privacy laws.
Despite these concerns, the court’s ruling underscores the administration’s commitment to utilizing all available tools to enforce immigration laws. By leveraging existing data and inter-agency collaboration, the Trump administration aims to address illegal immigration more effectively and uphold the rule of law.
The plaintiffs in the case, including Centro de Trabajadores Unidos and other immigrant-rights groups, have expressed disappointment but indicated that they are considering their legal options moving forward. They emphasize the importance of monitoring the implementation of the agreement to ensure compliance with legal limitations.
As the debate over immigration enforcement continues, this ruling represents a pivotal moment in the administration’s efforts to strengthen border security and uphold immigration laws through enhanced data sharing and inter-agency cooperation.
