IRS sending private tax files to immigration officers
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The Internal Revenue Service has reached an agreement to share tax records of immigrants facing deportation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to recent reports.
This collaborative arrangement, formalized on Monday, enables ICE officials to request tax information for individuals who are either under deportation orders or subject to ongoing investigations. While the agreement is now in place, no data has yet been exchanged between the agencies.
The IRS and DHS have reached a historic deal to permit ICE to access taxpayer information to locate illegal aliens subject to deportation. These would be illegals who have already had a hearing before an immigration judge and given removal orders.https://t.co/89S21P6PFT
— Robbie Mouton (@mcgmouton57) April 8, 2025
The decision marks a significant shift from previous IRS policy. Earlier resistance to this information-sharing initiative from within the IRS led to professional consequences, including the demotion of an agency lawyer who had argued that such cooperation with immigration enforcement would violate federal regulations.
Though federal law permits the use of tax information in criminal investigations, this new arrangement has sparked serious concerns among immigrant advocacy organizations. These groups worry that the policy change could discourage immigrants from filing tax returns and potentially drive them toward unreported employment opportunities.
The IRS has agreed to share immigrants’ tax information with ICE to facilitate deportations. pic.twitter.com/Vn91M7RxEw
— Pop Base (@PopBase) April 8, 2025
Advocates have expressed particular alarm about the exposure of sensitive information contained in tax records, including residential and workplace details of immigrants and their family members. Having previously relied on the IRS’s commitment to data confidentiality, these organizations have now taken legal action to prevent the release of such information.
The litigation to block this information-sharing agreement remains ongoing, as immigrant rights groups continue their efforts to maintain the traditional separation between tax administration and immigration enforcement.
