The IRS Is Building a System to Share Taxpayers' Data with ICE
10 months ago
- #ICE
- #privacy
- #IRS
- The IRS is developing a system to provide ICE with automated access to confidential taxpayer addresses, potentially enabling mass deportations.
- Acting IRS general counsel Andrew De Mello refused ICE's request for 7.3 million taxpayer addresses, citing legal deficiencies, and was subsequently forced out of his position.
- A memorandum of understanding between DHS and IRS includes legal safeguards, but ICE's request for millions of records allegedly does not meet these requirements.
- Privacy laws historically limit IRS data sharing with law enforcement, and unauthorized disclosure of taxpayer information is a felony.
- The new system could lead to incorrect addresses being provided to ICE, resulting in wrongful targeting of individuals.
- IRS engineers and lawyers have expressed concerns about legal risks and ethical implications of the new system.
- A federal judge ruled that the broader agreement between DHS and IRS complies with existing law, allowing the system's development to proceed.
- DHS has proposed expanding the agreement to include data on U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents associated with criminal activities.
- Critics argue the system could be abused, allowing unprecedented access to IRS records for non-tax-related purposes.
- The Trump administration is integrating multiple government agencies into its deportation efforts, including the IRS and Social Security Administration.