The Trump administration this week transferred personal data — including immigration status — of millions of Medicaid enrollees to deportation officials, potentially aiding efforts to locate individuals as part of President Donald Trump’s broad immigration crackdown.
Internal documents obtained by The Associated Press reveal that Medicaid officials attempted to block the data transfer, citing legal and ethical concerns.
However, their objections were overruled when two senior advisers to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directed that the dataset be handed over to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) were given just 54 minutes on Tuesday to comply with the mandate.
The dataset contains information on individuals residing in California, Illinois, Washington state, and Washington, D.C. — jurisdictions that allow non-U.S. citizens to enroll in Medicaid programs funded exclusively by state taxpayers. The data transfer coincided with heightened enforcement efforts by the Trump administration, particularly in Southern California.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) office voiced concerns over the potential use of this information by federal immigration authorities, particularly as National Guard troops and Marines assisted with immigration raids in Los Angeles.
“We deeply value the privacy of all Californians,” Newsom’s office said in a statement. “This potential data transfer brought to our attention by the AP is extremely concerning, and if true, potentially unlawful, particularly given numerous headlines highlighting potential improper federal use of personal information and federal actions to target the personal information of Americans.”
Responding to inquiries, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) spokesman Andrew Nixon defended the data exchange, asserting its legality.
“With respect to the recent data sharing between CMS and DHS, HHS acted entirely within its legal authority – and in full compliance with all applicable laws – to ensure that Medicaid benefits are reserved for individuals who are lawfully entitled to receive them,” Nixon said.
While officials argue that the data helps verify Medicaid eligibility, experts warn that it could also be used to hinder noncitizen applicants pursuing green cards, permanent residency, or citizenship — particularly if they have received federal Medicaid benefits in the past.
The CMS announced late last month that it was reviewing certain states’ Medicaid enrollments to ensure that federal funds were not improperly allocated to individuals with “unsatisfactory immigration status.” In a letter to state Medicaid offices, the agency stated that the initiative was part of Trump’s executive order from February 19, titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders.”
As part of this review, California, Washington, and Illinois shared data on non-U.S. citizens enrolled in their state Medicaid programs, according to a June 6 memo signed by Medicaid Deputy Director Sara Vitolo and obtained by the AP.
According to the memo and anonymous sources, the shared data includes addresses, names, Social Security numbers, and claims information related to enrollees in these states.
