Immigration officials, DOGE seek data in crackdown on illegal immigration and waste
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials and the U.S. DOGE Service are reportedly considering adding a Medicare database to their tools for cracking down on illegal immigrants. According to a report by The Washington Post, the agencies are planning to utilize the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) database, known as the Integrated Data Repository (IDR), which contains beneficiary information, Medicare claims, and more.
ICE is seeking to compare Social Security numbers of individuals suspected of being in the country illegally to Medicare claims in order to determine their addresses. This move comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s memorandum aimed at preventing illegal immigrants from accessing benefits through the Social Security Act, including Medicare. The memorandum establishes a Medicare and Medicaid fraud prosecution program and expands the Social Security Administration’s enforcement initiatives.
Elon Musk, who leads DOGE, has previously spoken out about the “waste and fraud” in federal entitlement programs, including Medicare. He has emphasized the need to eliminate waste in entitlement spending, which accounts for a significant portion of federal expenditures.
The alleged collaboration between DOGE and ICE reflects the Trump administration’s efforts to combat illegal immigration and government waste. This joint initiative underscores the administration’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws and ensuring the integrity of federal entitlement programs.
ICE has not provided a response to inquiries regarding this reported initiative. As developments unfold, it will be crucial to monitor how this potential integration of the Medicare database impacts enforcement efforts and the broader immigration landscape. Stay tuned for updates on this evolving story.
Rachel Wolf, a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business, contributed to this article.
