Privacy concerns rise as IRS and Homeland Security near information-sharing agreement

The IRS and the DHS are close to finalizing an agreement that would allow the two to share information about individuals in the U.S. illegally.

CNN- The IRS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are reportedly close to finalizing an agreement that would allow the two agencies to share information about individuals in the U.S. illegally, sparking concerns over taxpayer privacy. A source familiar with the matter has confirmed that under the new arrangement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would be able to submit names and addresses of individuals suspected of being in the country unlawfully. The IRS would then cross-reference this information, potentially confirming the individuals’ identities.

CNN’s Kevin Liptak reports that the primary goal of this partnership appears to be speeding up President Trump’s deportation efforts. “This appears to be part of a broader push to streamline and accelerate immigration enforcement,” Liptak says. Supporters of the president argue that his tough stance on immigration is in line with the wishes of voters. Pete Seat, a former White House spokesperson for George W. Bush, stated, “You have an administration and a president that is strong in their conviction that they have a mandate from the voters to act.”

Critics warn that involving the IRS in this initiative could jeopardize taxpayer privacy. The IRS operates under strict laws that typically prohibit the release of personal information, including tax records. Legal analyst Michael Moore emphasized that there are legal processes in place to determine whether such sensitive data should be disclosed. “There is a process in place for a court to review and decide whether that information should be released,” Moore explained.

This issue of privacy is further complicated by the fact that many taxpayers have common names, such as John Smith. Advocates for taxpayer privacy fear that cross-referencing names between the IRS and ICE could lead to errors, especially in cases of mistaken identity. David Leopold, an immigration attorney, expressed serious concerns, saying, “We’re inevitably going to be encroaching on the taxes and the privacy of American citizens.” Leopold’s fears reflect a broader worry that this partnership could open the door for more invasive government surveillance.