TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has joined a multistate coalition in filing a federal lawsuit challenging a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) decision that permits the transfer of personal Medicaid data to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for immigration enforcement purposes.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the lawsuit argues that the HHS action violates federal law by allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to sensitive health information without consent or legal justification. The suit seeks to halt further data transfers and block use of the information for non-healthcare-related purposes.
“This is just the latest example of the callous and cruel decision making that, tragically, has become all too common from this administration,” said Platkin. “If people are afraid that their privacy rights will be violated, they will be unwilling to enroll in Medicaid and get the care they need to stay healthy.”
The case centers on Medicaid’s long-established legal protections for beneficiary data. Since the program’s creation in 1965, personal health information has only been permitted to be shared under narrow exceptions related to public health or Medicaid program integrity.
On June 13, states learned through media reports that HHS had transferred Medicaid data from several states to DHS. According to the reports, the information is intended for use in immigration enforcement operations, including what officials described as potential “mass deportations.”
The federal government has stated that the data transfer was meant to verify eligibility and ensure benefits are provided only to those lawfully entitled. However, the lawsuit notes that Congress has authorized emergency Medicaid coverage for all residents, regardless of immigration status.
In New Jersey, approximately 1.9 million residents are enrolled in Medicaid. Nationally, more than 78 million people receive benefits through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
The coalition argues that the unauthorized sharing of health data will deter individuals from seeking care and could shift the financial burden of emergency services to states and hospitals.
The lawsuit claims the policy shift was made without formal notice or consultation with state governments.