Trump Administration Taps Private Data to Track Undocumented Immigrants
The Trump administration is reportedly using sensitive personal data to identify undocumented immigrants across the U.S., targeting them in workplaces, schools, and homes as part of a broader deportation effort, according to The Detroit News.
Employees working under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, have reportedly been granted access to extensive government databases. These include confidential information submitted to agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Social Security Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Sources told The Independent that this access is being utilized to flag undocumented individuals, even those residing in “mixed-status” households — where some members are legal residents or citizens. The administration is pursuing policies that would disqualify such households from public housing programs, aiming to cut off federal aid to undocumented migrants.
At HUD, officials are developing a rule to deny housing assistance to families with varying citizenship or immigration statuses. According to insiders, this data is also being shared with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to aid in deportation proceedings.
Critics argue this sweeping use of data crosses ethical lines and erodes public trust, especially among immigrants who submitted information under the assumption of confidentiality. Tanya Broder, senior counsel at the National Immigration Law Center, warned that such actions could set a dangerous precedent. “This isn’t just about one group—it threatens everyone’s privacy,” she told The Washington Post.
Despite legal concerns, the White House has defended the initiative. A DHS official stated that cross-agency data sharing is necessary to identify unauthorized individuals, assess national security risks, and manage public resources. “Taxpayer-funded benefits should go to citizens,” said HUD Secretary Scott Turner, justifying the strategy as a response to America’s ongoing housing shortage.
The IRS has reportedly agreed to provide ICE with select tax data related to undocumented residents, which could potentially be used to locate millions suspected of living in the U.S. illegally.
Crackdown on Campus Protests
In a separate effort, the administration has launched investigations into several universities over their handling of antisemitism complaints. Internal documents reveal that political appointees at the Department of Education instructed legal staff to request protesters’ names and nationalities—especially those opposing Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, said the information was needed to evaluate how schools addressed antisemitism but did not directly deny links to immigration enforcement or deportation.
