The system aims to streamline the identification, detention, and deportation of undocumented migrants by integrating information from the IRS, SSA, and HHS.
A controversial effort to centralize sensitive data from federal agencies into a “master database” for immigration enforcement is underway, with Elon Musk’s DOGE team and Palantir Technologies at the helm, CNN reports.
The system aims to streamline the identification, detention, and deportation of undocumented migrants by integrating information from the IRS, SSA, and HHS.
“If they are designing a deportation machine, they will be able to do that,” a former IRS official told CNN. Privacy advocates and lawmakers have sounded the alarm.
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) accused DOGE of “rapidly, haphazardly, and unlawfully” combining data. A federal judge is expected to rule in May on the legality of IRS data sharing with ICE.
Trump denied knowledge of immigration use: “Not that I know of.” However, Palantir’s DHS contract reportedly covers operations targeting undocumented immigrants, raising serious civil liberties concerns.