The Trump administration is advancing a controversial initiative that is likely to instill fear in California’s immigrant communities. This plan involves transferring the personal data of millions of Medicaid recipients to federal immigration authorities, specifically to assist in tracking individuals believed to be living in the U.S. illegally. According to an agreement recently signed between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a vast collection of personal information—including home addresses, social security numbers, and ethnic backgrounds of approximately 79 million Medicaid enrollees—will now be accessible to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.
The newly signed agreement, which has not been publicly disclosed, grants ICE the authority to utilize the CMS data to acquire identity and location details on individuals identified as undocumented aliens. This initiative is perceived as the latest stride by the Trump administration to amass sensitive information about residents in the U.S., in a bid to fulfill its promise of intensifying the crackdown on illegal immigration, aiming for the arrest of 3,000 undocumented immigrants daily.
Critics have raised alarms since the Trump administration directed CMS to provide DHS with personal information on Medicaid recipients, including non-U.S. citizens enrolled in state-funded programs in California, Illinois, Washington, and Washington, D.C. These states have committed to not billing the federal government for Medicaid services rendered to immigrants who are otherwise ineligible for federal assistance.
California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff expressed their apprehensions in a recent letter to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz. They cautioned about potential violations of federal privacy laws stemming from the sharing of personal health data. “These actions not only raise ethical issues but are contrary to longstanding HHS policy,” they stated, expressing their deep concern that the administration plans to utilize confidential health information for immigration enforcement against lawful noncitizens and mixed-status families.
It is essential to note that undocumented immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid, a program that assists low-income individuals with medical costs. However, federal law mandates that states provide emergency Medicaid, which covers lifesaving medical services in emergency situations for everyone, regardless of immigration status. A recent report from the Congressional Budget Office indicated that between 2017 and 2023, approximately $27 billion was spent on emergency Medicaid for noncitizens, accounting for less than 1% of total Medicaid expenditures during that timeframe.
Critics, including former CMS advisor Hannah Katch, described the administration's plan as a “profound violation of trust.” The data shared with CMS is subject to protective statutes and customary practices. Katch emphasized that releasing Medicaid enrollee information outside of the agency would severely impact individuals relying on emergency Medicaid for critical care. “This action will deter people from seeking necessary medical assistance during emergencies, which is incredibly cruel,” Katch asserted.
Elizabeth Laird, director of equity in civic technology at the Center for Democracy and Technology, echoed similar sentiments, indicating that sharing sensitive healthcare data with ICE fundamentally undermines public trust. “This jaw-dropping development proves that the administration’s claim of preventing fraud is merely a facade aimed at facilitating the deportation of millions,” she stated.
The plan to share Medicaid data is not an isolated incident. In May, the Department of Agriculture mandated states to turn over information on SNAP food benefits recipients. Last month, the California Medical Association alerted that the sharing of personal Medicaid data could jeopardize nearly 15 million patients and their families statewide. Dr. René Bravo, the CMA’s president elect, emphasized that sending sensitive patient information to deportation officials could have devastating consequences for communities and healthcare access.
Orange County’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs recently informed the public about the CMS's directive to send DHS personal information about Medicaid recipients, including non-citizens. Their statement highlighted concerns that this data, originally meant for healthcare administration, could be misused for immigration enforcement, causing anxiety among clients hesitant to seek medical services.
Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento criticized the action as a “cruel breach” of trust, indicating that it deters individuals from accessing necessary health services and poses serious public health risks. “This undermines community health and inflates costs for our healthcare system,” Sarmiento stated.
As the situation continues to unfold, the anxiety among immigrant populations in Orange County is palpable. Many have inquired about the possibility of un-enrolling from programs or altering their personal information to avoid targeting by immigration officials. Director of the Orange County Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, Jose Serrano, noted that while some information has traditionally been shared for research and funding purposes, the current circumstances of potential misuse are unprecedented. “It’s unfortunate that this medical information is being weaponized against families who are significant contributors to our communities,” Serrano concluded.
