Recent news has caused unease among immigrant communities in the United States, including Cuban Americans, due to a potential partnership between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). According to CNN, the IRS may soon verify addresses of taxpayers suspected of being in the U.S. illegally, upon request by immigration authorities.
This proposed measure, still under discussion, would enable the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to submit names and addresses of individuals with deportation orders to the IRS. In return, the IRS would confirm if the information matches what is recorded in their systems. Although the current draft does not include the IRS directly providing confidential information, legal experts warn that this could potentially breach stringent tax privacy laws.
This shift in IRS policy is particularly concerning for newly arrived Cuban migrants, many of whom have filed taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), trusting in the confidentiality of their data. For years, the IRS has encouraged even those without legal status to fulfill their tax obligations, but this collaboration with immigration agencies might deter many from doing so.
In cities with significant Cuban populations, such as Miami, Tampa, and Houston, this initiative might create uncertainty among individuals involved in immigration proceedings, awaiting asylum, or recently arrived under humanitarian parole programs. In response, immigrant rights organizations in Chicago have filed a lawsuit against the Treasury Department and the IRS, seeking a court order to prevent any attempt to share sensitive information with ICE or DHS.
The complaints argue that these agencies are not valid exceptions under the federal tax code to receive such sensitive data. The current version of the agreement would require case approval by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem or ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, both of whom adhere to the Trump Administration's immigration strategy. Additionally, each request would need to include the taxpayer's name, address, and the date of the deportation order.
If this agreement is finalized, it would represent a substantial shift in the relationship between the IRS and immigrants, potentially affecting thousands of Cuban families who have sought to regularize their status by complying with tax obligations since their first year in the United States.
Impact of IRS and ICE Collaboration on Cuban Immigrants
What is the potential agreement between the IRS and ICE about?
The potential agreement involves the IRS verifying addresses of taxpayers suspected of being in the U.S. illegally upon request from ICE, which would provide names and addresses of individuals with deportation orders to the IRS.
Why is this agreement concerning for Cuban immigrants?
This agreement is concerning because it may breach tax privacy laws and deter Cuban immigrants from filing taxes, affecting their attempts to regularize their status in the U.S.
How have immigrant rights organizations responded to this potential agreement?
Immigrant rights organizations have filed a lawsuit against the Treasury Department and the IRS, aiming to block any sharing of confidential information with ICE or DHS.