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Massachusetts Judge Halts ICE Use of IRS Tax Data

The judge said the IRS disclosures likely violated strict taxpayer confidentiality laws.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 04: ICE agents depart the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building on February 4, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. White House Border Czar Tom Homan announced Wednesday that 700 immigration enforcement personnel would be withdrawn from Minnesota, following weeks of operations and the fatal shooting of two protesters. Homan said the withdrawal would take effect immediately. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
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Federal immigration agents detain a man during an operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Jan. 27, 2026. (Photo by Octavio JONES / AFP via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a temporary injunction barring DHS and ICE from inspecting, using, copying, distributing, or otherwise acting on any IRS‑provided return information, including data received on August 7, 2025.
  • The court found plaintiffs likely to succeed on claims that the disclosures breached laws limiting use of taxpayer “return information” to officers personally and directly engaged in specific non‑tax criminal investigations.
  • Talwani cited ICE requests seeking addresses for millions of people, including hundreds of thousands with final removal orders, and warned of misidentification risks that could lead to wrongful arrests.
  • The order also blocks further IRS disclosures to ICE and specifically names DHS, Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE, and Acting Director Todd Lyons among those enjoined.
  • The ruling follows a November injunction in Washington, D.C., that flagged APA violations, and ICE has said it has not used the IRS data to deport people.