A liberal judge just blocked President Trump’s latest move to crack down on illegal immigration — siding with privacy activists over border security.
In a major setback for the administration’s mass deportation plan, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria — appointed by Barack Obama — issued a preliminary injunction against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The order stops the agency from sharing Medicaid enrollee information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
This includes highly sensitive data such as Social Security numbers and home addresses from 20 states that sued to stop the policy.
Long-Standing Loophole Remains Open
For over a decade, ICE had avoided using Medicaid records to locate illegal immigrants — a policy the Trump administration moved to change earlier this year. Officials argue the shift is necessary to close loopholes that allow migrants to hide within the healthcare system while American taxpayers foot the bill.
But Judge Chhabria claimed the change could “disrupt” Medicaid and accused the administration of skipping the proper review process.
Quiet Rollout Sparks Lawsuit
HHS quietly began handing over Medicaid records in June, giving DHS daily access to the personal data of 79 million enrollees nationwide. This included information on illegal immigrants who used emergency Medicaid — a program meant only for life-saving ER care — as well as citizens and legal residents.
Medicaid officials reportedly tried to block the change but were overruled by top advisers to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Democrats Celebrate Court Ruling
California Attorney General Rob Bonta called Trump’s plan “inhumane” and accused him of “overstepping his authority.” Washington state’s Democrat Attorney General Nick Brown claimed it could deter people from seeking emergency care.
For the time being, the injunction freezes the policy until HHS can provide what the judge deems a “reasoned justification” — or until the legal fight plays out in court.
Another Courtroom Battle in the Border War
This ruling comes just months after another federal judge blocked the IRS from giving ICE access to immigrants’ tax records. Both cases highlight how liberal judges and Democrat-led states are working to derail Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement agenda — even as the border crisis continues to spiral.
Do you believe Democrat-appointed judges are protecting privacy — or protecting illegal immigration?