A coalition of 21 states, led by California, filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for sharing patient medical data with immigration agencies such as ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
The legal action was filed in the Northern District Court of California and alleges that the transfer of personal data of Medicaid beneficiaries to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a direct violation of federal public health law.
What does Medicaid protect and why does it matter?
Medicaid, created in 1965, provides health insurance to low-income individuals.
Including children, pregnant women, the elderly, people with disabilities and some categories of immigrants.
By law, medical information collected must be kept confidential, and can only be shared in specific circumstances that promote public health, not immigration prosecution.
In January 2025, more than 78.4 million people were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP (the Children’s Insurance Program).
Among them, more than two million immigrants in California through the state’s Medi-Cal program.
The problem stems from new policies pushed by the Trump administration, which empowered HHS to transfer data to ICE without a warrant, allegedly to facilitate raids and mass deportations.
“A culture of fear”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the policy “upends decades of privacy protections.”
In addition, it generates a “culture of fear” among immigrant communities, who may stop seeking medical care for fear of being identified and deported.
Collected medical information must be kept confidential
According to the lawsuit, these practices deter vulnerable people from attending hospitals, which exacerbates public health risks in communities with high migrant density.
The plaintiffs seek an injunction preventing HHS from continuing to share data and demand a ban on the use of data already submitted for immigration purposes.
States supporting the claim
In addition to California, the following states have joined the legal action:
Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan and Minnesota.
Also, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
It is worth remembering that many states, such as California, use state funds to expand Medicaid access to immigrants without legal status.
This could be threatened if the use of medical data for migratory purposes becomes widespread.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
