A federal judge has temporarily barred the federal government from using Medicaid data from states that sued over its use in immigration enforcement.
The decision blocks the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement, from using any Medicaid records it already has from California and other states that sued over the data share. It also prevents the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from sharing the data with immigration authorities.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta led a coalition of states in suing the Trump administration, alleging the mass transfer of Medicaid data violated the law.
The lawsuit was filed after an Associated Press report revealed that, under President Donald Trump, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shared data, including immigration status, of millions of Medicaid beneficiaries with the Department of Homeland Security.
The report suggests the information could aid immigration enforcement efforts under Trump’s broader crackdown.
Under federal law, Medicaid is required to provide emergency services regardless of a recipient’s immigration status.
States like California, which operates the program as Medi-Cal, routinely share limited data with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to comply with federal funding and oversight requirements.
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