Padilla, Cortez Masto, Wyden Statement on Reported IRS Plans to Share Sensitive Taxpayer Data to DHS
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following joint statement in response to reports that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is planning to provide sensitive taxpayer information to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to locate suspected undocumented immigrants:
“This weekend, it became clear that the Trump Administration is finalizing plans to target and penalize people who are following federal law and contributing to our economy. This agreement between the IRS and DHS — if finalized — will have long-lasting and devastating implications on our economy, taxpayer privacy, immigrant communities, and the rule of law.
“It’s past time for the Trump Administration to make their plans public. The IRS and DHS must disclose the extent of this agreement and brief Congress immediately.”
Earlier this month, Padilla, Cortez Masto, and Wyden led a letter to IRS and DHS leadership raising the alarm on reports that DHS and the “Department of Government Efficiency” have illegally requested sensitive taxpayer information from the IRS. So far, the Trump Administration has not responded to their demand for answers about their plans to require the IRS to turn over the home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of over 700,000 people.
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