IRS, ICE Near Agreement to Share Suspected Immigrant Addresses

The IRS and ICE are reportedly nearing a data-sharing agreement that would allow ICE to verify the names and addresses of immigrants suspected of living in the U.S. illegally using confidential taxpayer information. This controversial agreement would enable ICE to cross-check names submitted to the IRS against its tax database, focusing only on individuals already facing removal orders. Requests for this data must come from specific officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem or acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, and must include detailed identifying information. Historically, IRS tax information has been heavily protected, with strict limitations on sharing it with law enforcement, raising significant privacy concerns. Critics argue that this move undermines decades of assurances to immigrants about the confidentiality of their tax data, potentially affecting their willingness to file taxes. The discussions have reportedly been influenced by changes within the IRS under the Trump administration, indicating a shift toward more aggressive immigration enforcement strategies.