States Challenge Trump Administration Over Health Data Sharing with ICE
A coalition of 22 states has filed a motion with a federal court alleging that the Trump administration has disregarded a previous court order restricting the sharing of health data with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation purposes.
Background of the Court Ruling
In December, a federal court allowed ICE to access basic information from Medicaid—a state and federal health insurance program aimed primarily at low-income individuals—to assist in locating undocumented immigrants. This ruling was viewed as a partial win for the administration in a case initiated by the 22 states along with the District of Columbia, which sought to halt any information sharing between ICE and Medicaid.
Limits Imposed by the Court
The court, however, imposed specific constraints on ICE, permitting access only to fundamental personal data such as addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and immigration status. Notably, the ruling explicitly prohibited ICE from obtaining information regarding lawful permanent residents and U.S. citizens.
Concerns Among Advocates
Advocates have raised alarms that even limited data sharing could discourage immigrants—including those in legal status—from enrolling in Medicaid. They argue that such fear might compel families to forgo their health insurance, increasing their vulnerability.
New Filings Against Federal Actions
In recent submissions to the court, the states accuse the Trump administration of ignoring the stipulations outlined in the court’s ruling. They assert that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has disclosed a “large and complex” dataset of Medicaid recipients to ICE, which contravenes the prohibition against sharing information about citizens and lawful residents.
Legal Definition of “Lawfully Present”
The plaintiff states contend that the federal government has not clarified how it identifies individuals as “lawfully present” and has not assured that it excludes protected individuals when sharing data with ICE. They are requesting that the court formally prevent any sharing of protected health information related to legally residing individuals and affirm that “lawful resident” includes non-citizens with legal status, such as refugees and asylum seekers.
Upcoming Court Proceedings
The states are also seeking court approval to review the data previously shared with ICE, requesting insight into its usage. The Trump administration has yet to respond to these allegations. A hearing is scheduled for April 30th in federal court in San Francisco, where the states will present their case. The coalition comprises Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin—all represented by Democratic attorneys general.
