IRS reaches data-sharing deal with DHS to help find undocumented immigrants for deportation

The Department of Homeland Security and the Internal Revenue Service finalized an agreement Monday to provide sensitive taxpayer data to federal immigration authorities as part of President Donald Trump’s deportation push, according to court filings.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Internal Revenue Service finalized an agreement Monday to provide sensitive taxpayer data to federal immigration authorities as part of President Donald Trump’s deportation push, according to court filings. As part of the deal, the IRS agreed to turn over information about undocumented immigrants who DHS says are already facing deportation orders and are under federal criminal investigation, including for the crime of failing to leave the country, according to the filings. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem signed the agreement. CNN reported last month that the IRS was nearing a deal to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement track down undocumented immigrants for possible deportation. Parts of the 15-page “memorandum of understanding” are redacted, making it difficult to discern exactly what IRS will provide. But the terms of the deal say ICE will come to the IRS with the names and address of taxpayers that they believe have violated federal immigration laws. The IRS would then cross-reference that information with existing taxpayer data and confirm its accuracy, CNN previously reported. IRS has addresses for undocumented immigrants because many members of that community register with the agency and pay billions of dollars in taxes each year – in exchange for their data staying confidential in most circumstances. “The bases for this (memorandum of understanding) are founded in longstanding authorities granted by Congress, which serve to protect the privacy of law-abiding Americans while streamlining the ability to pursue criminals,” a Treasury spokesperson said in a statement.