Nevada AG Seeks to Enforce Order Blocking ICE Access to Medicaid Data

Ford and coalition of AGs say HHS shared Medicaid data with ICE despite court ruling restricting access.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:54pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of a solitary government office desk with a laptop computer and papers, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of bureaucratic isolation and political tension.The legal battle over access to sensitive Medicaid data reflects the broader conflict between state and federal authority in the Trump era.Reno Today

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford is asking a California court to enforce an order blocking the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from sharing large swaths of Medicaid data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Ford and a coalition of other state attorneys general say recent communications indicate HHS has shared a complex Medicaid data set with ICE, despite a court ruling that much of this data is off-limits.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing tensions between states and the federal government over access to sensitive personal data, particularly when it involves vulnerable populations like Medicaid recipients. The attorneys general argue the Trump administration is disregarding court orders and putting immigrant communities at risk of harassment and harm.

The details

Ford and the coalition of AGs say the exact content of the Medicaid data shared with ICE is unclear, but they are now asking the court to confirm the scope of its original order that includes all individuals lawfully residing in the United States. They also want to compel the federal government to explain what data has been shared and how ICE is using the data.

  • The original court order blocking HHS from sharing Medicaid data with ICE was issued in 2025.
  • The AGs say recent communications indicate HHS shared the data with ICE despite the court order.

The players

Aaron Ford

The Attorney General of Nevada who is leading the coalition of state AGs seeking to enforce the court order.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The federal agency that the AGs say shared Medicaid data with ICE despite the court order.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal immigration enforcement agency that the AGs say received the Medicaid data from HHS.

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What they’re saying

“The Trump administration may think they are above the law, but they cannot simply ignore a court order. We are returning to court to ensure this order is followed and critical, private medical data is not shared with ICE in order to harass and harm our communities.”

— Aaron Ford, Nevada Attorney General

What’s next

The California court will need to rule on the AGs' request to confirm the scope of the original order and compel the federal government to explain the Medicaid data sharing.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing legal battles between states and the federal government over access to sensitive personal data, especially when it involves vulnerable populations like Medicaid recipients. It raises concerns about the Trump administration's willingness to disregard court orders and the potential harm to immigrant communities.