A federal judge has put a stop to the sharing of personal data from Medicaid enrollees to immigration officials. District Judge Vince Chhabria issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from giving the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) access to sensitive information, including home addresses, of those enrolled in Medicaid across 20 states.
Chhabria, appointed by former President Obama, emphasized that using Medicaid data for immigration enforcement could severely disrupt a program that many vulnerable Americans depend on for critical health coverage. In his ruling, he stated, “Using CMS data for immigration enforcement threatens to significantly disrupt the operation of Medicaid.”
The judge acknowledged that while DHS is not barred from collecting data for immigration enforcement, it has refrained from using Medicaid information for over a decade. Chhabria pointed out the importance of following established policies that ensure the privacy of enrollees. He noted, “The record in this case strongly suggests that no such process occurred,” indicating that the Biden administration’s shift could be deemed hasty and poorly considered.
This ruling emerged in response to a lawsuit filed by multiple states soon after HHS began sharing Medicaid data without public announcement. The judge’s decision remains firm until HHS demonstrates a sound rationale for its policy change or until the case is resolved in court.
In statements surrounding this issue, California Attorney General Rob Bonta criticized the administration, arguing the new data-sharing policy represented a significant policy shift without proper notice. He said, “The Trump administration’s move to use Medicaid data for immigration enforcement upended longstanding policy protections without notice or consideration for the consequences.”
Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown also stressed the vital importance of safeguarding health information. He stated, “Protecting people’s private health information is vitally important.” Advocates for immigrants are warning that the sharing of this data could instill fear among those seeking necessary medical care, potentially deterring them from treatment, particularly in emergencies.
HHS has maintained that the agreements with DHS are legal, despite opposition within its own ranks. This ongoing debate raises essential questions about privacy, healthcare access, and the intersection of immigration enforcement with welfare programs, highlighting an area of contention that continues to generate significant legal challenges.
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