California Attorney General Rob Bonta, alongside a coalition of states, has initiated legal proceedings against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The lawsuit challenges HHS’s decision to allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), access to personal health data from Medicaid recipients. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the lawsuit argues that this transfer of data is illegal and seeks to prevent its use for immigration enforcement.
Attorney General Bonta expressed his concern over privacy violations, stating: “The Trump Administration has upended longstanding privacy protections with its decision to illegally share sensitive, personal health data with ICE.” He emphasized that this move could deter individuals from seeking necessary medical care due to fear.
Medicaid, established in 1965, provides essential health insurance for low-income individuals and vulnerable groups. Each state manages its own program within federal guidelines. As of January 2025, over 78 million people were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP nationwide.
California’s Medi-Cal program covers about one-third of Californians, including many noncitizens such as green card holders and refugees. While not all noncitizens qualify for federally funded services, California uses state funds to ensure healthcare coverage regardless of immigration status.
Typically, personal data is exchanged between states and the federal government for Medicaid administration purposes. Historically, DHS has acknowledged that Medicaid information should not be used for immigration enforcement. However, recent reports indicate a shift in policy allowing DHS access to state residents’ Medicaid data for purposes unrelated to healthcare administration.
The federal government claims this data sharing ensures Medicaid benefits are only provided to eligible individuals. Yet Congress extended emergency Medicaid coverage irrespective of immigration status.
The lawsuit highlights potential negative consequences on public health if noncitizens avoid enrolling in emergency Medicaid due to fear of deportation. It seeks judicial intervention against further data transfers or usage by HHS and DHS.
Attorney General Bonta is joined by attorneys general from several states including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island Vermont Washington in this legal action.
A copy of the complaint is available here.
