California Governor Gavin Newsom at the Georgia TechÕs McCamish Pavilion prior to the CNN Presidential Debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump held at CNN's studios in Atlanta. CNN Anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash are moderators of the debate.
Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized the federal government on Thursday following reports that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had shared personal information from Medicaid beneficiaries with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—a move that could allow immigration enforcement to more easily locate and target undocumented individuals.
According to the Associated Press, the Trump administration this week transferred personal data, including immigration status, on millions of Medicaid enrollees to DHS. The action is part of an ongoing federal effort to intensify immigration enforcement nationwide.
“We deeply value the privacy of all Californians,” Newsom said in a statement. “This action by the federal government has implications for every person on Medicaid, but it is especially alarming for our immigrants and American mixed-status families who are already under relentless, indiscriminate attack.”
The move, which Newsom called “legally dubious,” raises new concerns about whether health data collected under the pretense of medical necessity is now being weaponized for immigration enforcement. Under federal law, Medicaid recipients include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and undocumented individuals eligible for emergency services—a category that includes childbirth and life-threatening conditions.
California’s Medi-Cal program, the largest in the country, currently provides health coverage to millions of low-income residents, including over a million people without legal status. Though the state is federally required to share some information with HHS and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Newsom’s office emphasized that California has not submitted any additional data beyond what is normally required.
State health officials said the data provided last month was meant to confirm that federal Medicaid funds were being used appropriately—not to facilitate immigration crackdowns. Still, the possibility that the federal government may be repurposing that information has rattled officials and advocates.
Emergency Medi-Cal, like emergency Medicaid in all 50 states, exists to ensure that people in urgent medical need—regardless of immigration status—can receive life-saving care. The policy also helps hospitals comply with federal requirements to treat patients in emergency situations, regardless of their ability to pay.
Newsom’s comments show the broader tension between federal immigration enforcement and California’s public health priorities. At the heart of the dispute is whether state residents can trust that their health data will remain confidential, particularly in immigrant communities already wary of government intrusion.
California law includes strong privacy protections, including the state’s constitution and the Information Practices Act of 1977. But in this case, Newsom signaled that the state’s legal safeguards may not be enough on their own, promising to “explore all avenues” to protect Californians from what he called “this abuse.”
