IRS nears agreement to share taxpayer data with ICE for deportations

The IRS is nearing a controversial agreement with the Department of Homeland Security that would permit Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to access taxpayer data to locate undocumented immigrants. This proposed deal would allow ICE to submit names and addresses of individuals suspected of being undocumented, which the IRS would cross-reference with its tax records, marking a significant shift from the agency's historical commitment to taxpayer confidentiality. Critics, including privacy advocates and immigrant rights groups, have raised alarms about potential violations of privacy laws and the misuse of sensitive tax information for immigration enforcement. Under current drafts, access to this data would be limited to individuals with final removal orders, but concerns remain regarding the broader implications of such data-sharing. The arrangement has sparked fear among undocumented immigrants who have been assured that their tax information would remain confidential. Leadership changes within the IRS have influenced the agency's willingness to consider this collaboration with DHS, suggesting a shift in policy direction that may align with the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement agenda.