In a bold move, California and 19 other U.S. states have launched a 59-page lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of illegally sharing sensitive Medicaid data with immigration enforcement agencies. This legal action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
The suit names high-ranking officials including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, claiming that the administration granted "unfettered access" to confidential health records—a decision that critics say flouts longstanding privacy laws.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, leading the multistate coalition, expressed strong disapproval: "I'm sickened by this latest salvo in the President's anti-immigrant campaign." Bonta emphasized that the data breach has sown fear among noncitizens and their families, causing many to avoid or drop enrollment in emergency Medicaid, which could prove life-threatening for those in need. ⚖️🩺
According to the lawsuit, federal laws like the Medicaid Act have always defined participants' health data as strictly confidential, intended for sharing only in limited circumstances that protect public health and the integrity of the program. There are even concerns over reports hinting at plans to create a sweeping database from this sensitive information.
This case is drawing significant attention as it pits privacy rights against national security measures, with potential long-term impacts on healthcare access. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story!
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Twenty U.S. states sue Trump administration over personal data leak
cgtn.com
