Judge Vince Chhabria ruled that federal agencies may share limited Medicaid information with ICE — specifically basic biographical, location and contact data — while blocking disclosure of broader or sensitive records pending litigation. California's attorney general criticized the partial ruling but welcomed the protection for health data and information about citizens and lawful residents. CMS says it will provide the "minimum required" data; CMS began sharing in June and formalized an agreement with ICE in July. A hearing is set for Friday and a final decision has not yet been issued.
Judge Allows Limited Sharing Of Medicaid Data With ICE, Blocks Broader Disclosures
An ICE agent during a raid in Huntington Park in Los Angeles on June 13. (Department of Homeland Security/Anadolu via Getty Images file)
A federal judge in California has ruled that federal agencies may provide Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with limited Medicaid enrollee information — restricted to basic biographical, location and contact details — while blocking broader disclosures pending litigation.
Key Ruling
U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria partially denied a preliminary injunction sought by 20 states, including California, finding that the law permits the sharing of "basic biographical, location, and contact information." At the same time, he barred the government from sharing more sensitive categories of data while the case proceeds.
"Beyond the basic information discussed above, the policies are totally unclear and do not appear to be the product of a coherent decisionmaking process," Chhabria wrote, signaling concern about undefined categories and risks.
Reactions And Concerns
California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office said it was "disappointed" that some data can be shared but welcomed the injunction against releasing sensitive health information or data on U.S. citizens and lawful residents. Bonta's office emphasized that Medi-Cal participants expected their information to remain private when they enrolled.
What CMS Said And The Timeline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said it would provide the "minimum required" information, citing examples such as citizenship or immigration status, location and phone numbers. According to the judge's background summary, CMS began transmitting Medicaid data to ICE in June and entered a formal data-sharing agreement with ICE in July.
Scope And Context
Most people unlawfully present in the U.S. are generally ineligible for Medicaid, though all states must offer emergency Medicaid — temporary coverage limited to lifesaving services provided in emergency rooms — regardless of immigration status. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found emergency Medicaid accounts for under 1% of program spending.
Medicaid is a joint federal-state program covering roughly 79 million people nationwide; in California it operates as Medi-Cal.
Next Steps
The lawsuit names the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies. The court has scheduled a hearing for Friday if necessary and has left the earlier order that blocked data sharing in effect through next Monday for administrative reasons. A final judgment has not yet been issued, and agencies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Why It Matters: The ruling balances immigration enforcement interests against privacy and public-health concerns, but unanswered questions about scope and safeguards leave important practical and legal issues unresolved.
