The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) plan to use data from the insurance program to identify illegal immigrants, the Washington Post reported, citing its sources.
According to their information, the US authorities want to gain access to the databases of the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (health care and medical insurance programs). In addition to health information, they contain addresses of patients and users of the program. Apparently, this is exactly the data that the immigration department needs.
Current and former US health officials interviewed by the newspaper expressed deep concern about the intentions of ICE and DOGE and questioned the legality of their actions.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly spoken out in favor of tightening US immigration policy. After taking office on January 20, he signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency on the border with Mexico. The Department of Homeland Security expanded the powers of US law enforcement agencies, allowing them to deport illegal immigrants under so-called fast-track procedures - without a decision in an immigration court.