Obama Judge Blocks ICE From Using IRS Data To Track Illegal Migrants

A federal judge on Thursday blocked 🛂Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from using taxpayer data to help track down illegal migrants.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, appointed to the bench by President Barack Obama, ordered the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to stop sharing home addresses with ICE, arguing the arrangement potentially violates taxpayer privacy rights, according to court documents. The ruling marks the latest setback in the Trump administration’s quest to use IRS data for its mass deportation campaign.

“In this instance, both the balance of the hardships and the public interest tilt heavily towards enjoining the implementation of the interagency data-sharing agreements,” Talwani wrote. “The implementation of agreements contrary to law erodes that foundation and undermines the public interest in a functioning tax system.”

“Second, there is significant hardship in the potential misidentification of noncitizens and citizens alike that could lead to wrongful arrests, detention and even removal,” the Obama judge continued. “Because the information sought was not for any specific criminal investigation, the data-sharing will necessarily include both the data of noncitizens subject to criminal prosecution and those who are not subject to criminal prosecution because of their deferred action status.”

IRS officials began negotiations on sharing data with the Department of Homeland Security in early 2025, according to court documents released at the time. The arrangement allowed ICE and other federal Immigration