Overview

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), alongside the U.S. DOGE Service, has requested access to Medicare's Integrated Data Repository to match Social Security Numbers with addresses of undocumented immigrants.
• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has not yet approved the data request and is still evaluating its legal and technical implications as of mid-April 2025.
• Critics argue that undocumented immigrants are ineligible for Medicare, limiting the practical utility of the data, while raising concerns about potential privacy violations and mission creep.
• The Trump administration frames the initiative as part of its broader effort to protect Medicare from ineligible claimants and curb undocumented immigration.
• Legal experts and former health officials warn that using health data for immigration enforcement is unprecedented and could deter eligible beneficiaries from accessing necessary care.