In a major interagency development, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have finalized an unprecedented agreement to share certain financial data in order to assist in identifying and locating individuals living in the United States illegally who are subject to deportation orders.
The agreement, which marks the first formal collaboration of its kind between the two federal agencies, will allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to access limited taxpayer data in specific cases involving noncitizens with final removal orders. The goal is to enhance the government’s ability to track individuals who have evaded prior apprehension or failed to appear in immigration court.
According to officials familiar with the deal, the arrangement is designed with built-in safeguards to protect personal financial privacy and ensure the information is only used for enforcement actions related to immigration law. The IRS will not provide full tax returns, but rather select information that could assist DHS in locating individuals whose physical whereabouts remain unknown.
Homeland Security officials emphasized that the agreement does not target undocumented individuals at large, but specifically those who have exhausted legal remedies and are considered to be in violation of final deportation rulings.
The partnership follows growing pressure from lawmakers and state officials to improve the federal government’s ability to enforce immigration laws more effectively. Proponents argue that access to financial data—such as employer details or bank information—can significantly improve the accuracy and success rate of locating individuals who have been ordered to leave the country.
Civil liberties advocates have raised concerns about the implications of cross-agency data sharing, warning that such practices could blur the lines between tax enforcement and immigration policing. IRS officials have responded by stressing that the new framework adheres to legal boundaries and limits the scope of information sharing.
The agreement is set to be implemented in stages, beginning with a pilot program in key jurisdictions where immigration enforcement faces the greatest logistical challenges. Results from the rollout will inform future adjustments and potential expansion.
As debate continues over the future of immigration enforcement and data privacy, this cooperation between the IRS and DHS represents a significant shift in how federal agencies coordinate efforts to uphold deportation laws.