Trump administration hands over immigrant Medicaid data, targets 'unsatisfactory immigration status'; raises privacy law concerns

The Trump administration this week gave deportation officials access to personal data, including immigration status, of millions of Medicaid enrollees, raising legal and ethical concerns within the government.Internal memos and emails revealed that officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) objected to the data transfer, arguing it could violate federal laws like the Social Security Act and the Privacy Act of 1974, AP reported.Despite their objections, two senior advisers to health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr ordered the information be shared with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). CMS was given just 54 minutes on Tuesday to comply.A spokesperson for the department of health and human services (HHS), Andrew Nixon, said the data sharing was legal and in line with federal regulations. He declined to explain why the data was shared or how DHS plans to use it.The data included names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and claimed information of people in California, Illinois, Washington state, and Washington, DC- states that allow non-citizens to receive state-funded Medicaid.

The release came as immigration enforcement was increasing in Southern California.Experts said the information could be used to locate undocumented immigrants and potentially deny green cards, permanent residency, or citizenship to those who had received federally funded Medicaid benefits.California governor Gavin Newsom’s office expressed concern over the move, calling it “extremely concerning” and “potentially unlawful.”

The statement also criticised the use of personal information in federal immigration enforcement efforts.Last month, CMS announced a targeted review of Medicaid enrollees in certain states to ensure federal funds were not used for people with “unsatisfactory immigration status.” The memo showed CMS officials tried to block DHS’s request, saying that the data was meant only for administering Medicaid, not for immigration enforcement.