WASHINGTON — A federal judge has ruled that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may share taxpayer data with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to assist in identifying and deporting individuals living illegally in the United States.
The decision, issued by U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich denies a preliminary injunction sought by nonprofit groups opposing the data-sharing arrangement.
The ruling supports a Trump administration policy that promotes the use of tax information in immigration enforcement operations.
Judge Friedrich concluded that the IRS did not significantly change its procedures in a way that violates the Internal Revenue Code.
The court found that the interagency agreement between the IRS and ICE complies with legal standards governing the confidentiality of tax data.
Under the existing agreement, the IRS shares selected tax records with ICE to help identify undocumented individuals who may be subject to removal under immigration laws.
The IRS has stated that this collaboration follows strict legal protocols and safeguards, ensuring the information shared is relevant and limited.
Several nonprofit organizations criticized the decision, arguing that undocumented immigrants who pay taxes deserve the same privacy protections as other taxpayers.
