IRS may share undocumented immigrants’ tax data with ICE, raising privacy concerns
This move has raised concerns among rights activists about the potential breach of privacy and the erosion of historical confidentiality standards in the U.S. tax system.
KATHMANDU: The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is preparing to allow immigration officers to access taxpayer data of undocumented immigrants.
If the proposed agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is successful, the personal details of immigrants living unlawfully could be cross-referenced to advance enforcement actions.
While taxpayer information has long been considered confidential, reports suggest that the IRS might share sensitive data with ICE to support the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies.
This move has raised concerns among rights activists about the potential breach of privacy and the erosion of historical confidentiality standards in the U.S. tax system.
Millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. have been paying taxes through Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs), yet the proposed agreement increases the risk that their tax details could be used in immigration enforcement proceedings.
This has created a climate of fear within immigrant communities, with strong concerns about privacy violations.
Analysts warn that allowing immigration enforcement to access tax information could have long-term consequences.
Human rights advocates have criticized this step by the Trump administration as an abuse of power, highlighting the potential harm to both privacy rights and immigrant communities.
