ICE nearing historic deal with IRS to aid in deportations: report
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are on the verge of reaching an agreement that would allow ICE to access taxpayer information to locate undocumented immigrants who are subject to deportation. This groundbreaking agreement would enable ICE to submit the names and addresses of illegal immigrants for cross-checking against IRS tax records, marking a significant departure from the IRS’s longstanding policy of keeping taxpayer information confidential.
According to a report in the Washington Post, the current draft agreement obtained by the publication outlines that ICE would be permitted to verify the addresses of illegal immigrants with final removal orders. Only Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and acting ICE Director Todd Lyons would be authorized to submit requests to the IRS under the proposed agreement.
The draft agreement would specifically authorize address verification for individuals “subject to criminal investigation” for violating immigration laws, utilizing a narrow exception to IRS privacy laws that allows taxpayer data to be used in criminal investigations. Some IRS officials have expressed concerns about the agreement, arguing that the exception was intended for criminal investigations, not immigration enforcement. They also worry that the policy could impede tax collection from undocumented immigrants who are still required to pay federal taxes despite their immigration status.
For years, the IRS has assured undocumented immigrants that their tax information is confidential, a policy that has enabled the agency to collect over 5 million tax returns from undocumented migrants. Access to tax records could potentially aid ICE in locating and deporting illegal immigrants.
President Donald Trump has been intensifying efforts to deport undocumented immigrants, with the administration seeking to utilize all available resources to support immigration officials. The recent resignation of longtime IRS employee Doug O’Donnell, who served as acting IRS commissioner, came after he rejected a Department of Homeland Security request for data on over 700,000 illegal immigrants.
O’Donnell’s replacement, Melanie Krause, has shown a greater willingness to cooperate with DHS. The agreement between the IRS and ICE is still pending finalization, with neither agency immediately responding to requests for comment.
In conclusion, the potential agreement between the IRS and ICE represents a significant shift in policy that could have far-reaching implications for undocumented immigrants and immigration enforcement efforts. It remains to be seen how this agreement will be implemented and what impact it will have on tax collection and deportation efforts moving forward.
