Fact Check: A federal judge refused to block the Internal Revenue Service from sharing immigrants’ tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to help agents locate and detain people living without legal status in the U.S.

Fact Check: Federal Judge Refuses to Block IRS from Sharing Immigrants’ Tax Data with ICE

What We Know

On May 12, 2025, a federal judge, Dabney Friedrich, ruled that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) could share tax data of immigrants with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to assist in identifying individuals living in the U.S. without legal status. This decision came as part of a lawsuit filed by nonprofit organizations that argued that undocumented immigrants who pay taxes should receive the same privacy protections as U.S. citizens and lawful immigrants (NPR, CNN).

The judge's ruling stated that the IRS's actions did not violate the Internal Revenue Code, as the IRS is permitted to share taxpayer information with other agencies for criminal enforcement purposes, provided certain criteria are met (Public Citizen, WDSU). The agreement allows ICE to request information about individuals who already have their names and addresses, which the IRS can then verify against its records (Tennessee Lookout).

Analysis

The ruling has sparked significant debate regarding privacy rights and the implications of sharing taxpayer data with immigration enforcement. Critics, including the nonprofit groups involved in the lawsuit, argue that this data-sharing agreement undermines privacy laws and could lead to the misuse of sensitive information (CNN, Immigration Forum). They contend that the agreement could disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including legal residents and those on the path to citizenship.

Supporters of the ruling, including the Trump administration, argue that the sharing of information is a necessary tool for enforcing immigration laws and securing U.S. borders. They assert that the IRS is merely utilizing existing legal frameworks to assist in criminal investigations (NPR, Public Citizen).

The reliability of the sources covering this ruling varies. Mainstream media outlets like NPR and CNN are generally considered credible, as they adhere to journalistic standards. However, some advocacy groups may have inherent biases that could color their interpretations of the ruling (WDSU, Tennessee Lookout).

Conclusion

The claim that a federal judge refused to block the IRS from sharing immigrants’ tax data with ICE is True. The ruling allows the IRS to share information under specific conditions, which has raised concerns about privacy and the potential for misuse of taxpayer data. The decision reflects ongoing tensions between immigration enforcement and the rights of undocumented immigrants, highlighting the complexities of U.S. immigration policy.

Sources

1. Sharing - Wikipedia
2. Judge refuses to block IRS from sharing tax data to identify ...
3. Judge Rules IRS Can Share Taxpayer Info with DHS or ICE ...
4. Judge refuses to block IRS from sharing tax data with ICE
5. Federal judge won't block Trump's plan to use IRS data ...
6. IRS to share immigrants' tax info with DHS
7. IRS & ICE Immigration Data-Sharing Agreement: Explainer
8. IRS Agrees to Share Immigrant Tax Data with ICE Amid ...