IRS Admits to Mistakenly Sharing Immigrant Data with DHS

The tax agency says it provided personal information to immigration authorities that it shouldn't have.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The IRS mistakenly gave the Department of Homeland Security thousands of immigrants' personal information as part of the agencies' controversial data-sharing agreement, according to a new court filing. The error stems from the IRS providing taxpayers' addresses that immigration enforcement authorities didn't already have, IRS Chief Risk and Control Officer Dottie Romo said in a declaration. The Treasury Department has notified DHS of the error and asked for their help to discard any data the IRS provided ICE based on incomplete information.

Why it matters

This incident raises concerns about the IRS's data security protocols and the potential misuse of taxpayer information by immigration enforcement authorities. It also highlights the ongoing debate over the appropriate boundaries of information-sharing between government agencies.

The details

According to the court filing, the IRS mistakenly provided DHS with thousands of immigrants' personal information, including addresses, as part of a data-sharing agreement between the two agencies. IRS Chief Risk and Control Officer Dottie Romo stated that the error occurred when the IRS provided taxpayers' addresses that immigration enforcement authorities didn't already have. The Treasury Department has since notified DHS of the mistake and requested their assistance in discarding any data the IRS provided to ICE based on incomplete information.

  • The IRS provided the erroneous data to DHS as part of an ongoing data-sharing agreement between the two agencies.
  • The Treasury Department notified DHS of the error last month.

The players

IRS

The Internal Revenue Service, the federal agency responsible for administering and enforcing federal tax laws.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The federal executive department responsible for public security, including immigration enforcement.

Dottie Romo

The IRS Chief Risk and Control Officer who filed the declaration acknowledging the data-sharing mistake.

Treasury Department

The federal executive department responsible for economic and financial policy, including oversight of the IRS.

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What they’re saying

“The IRS mistakenly gave the Department of Homeland Security thousands of immigrants' personal information as part of the agencies' controversial data-sharing agreement.”

— Dottie Romo, IRS Chief Risk and Control Officer (Court filing)

What’s next

The Treasury Department has requested DHS's assistance in discarding any data the IRS provided to ICE based on incomplete information.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for stronger data security protocols and greater transparency around information-sharing between government agencies, particularly when it comes to sensitive personal data of vulnerable populations like immigrants.