Source: The Washington Post, The Independent
Saturday, August 9, 2025A recent report reveals tensions between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the White House regarding the use of taxpayer data to identify undocumented immigrants. This clash occurred mere hours before the Trump administration ousted IRS Commissioner Billy Long on Friday.
According to anonymous sources cited by The Washington Post, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) submitted a list of over 40,000 individuals believed to be living in the U.S. illegally, requesting that the IRS utilize confidential taxpayer information to verify their addresses. This move followed an agreement made in April between the Treasury Department and the IRS, which raised concerns among IRS privacy lawyers.
DHS officials indicated they might ask the IRS for assistance in locating up to seven million undocumented individuals, amidst federal estimates suggesting about 11 million such immigrants reside in the country.
The IRS reported that it could only verify fewer than three percent of the names provided by DHS, with successful matches primarily occurring for those individuals who had an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead of a Social Security number.
White House officials sought additional details on the identified taxpayers, such as whether any utilized the earned income tax credit. However, the IRS declined to share this information, emphasizing the importance of taxpayer privacy.
Long had informed agency executives that the IRS would not disclose confidential information beyond the framework established with DHS. The nature of the dispute—specifically, whether the IRS's involvement in immigration enforcement influenced Long's departure—remains unclear.
A White House spokesperson stated, “The Trump administration is united in its mission to prevent illegal aliens from benefiting at the expense of hardworking American taxpayers,” asserting that any claims of discord were “false and totally fake news.”
In response, DHS maintained that the agreement with the IRS safeguards sensitive taxpayer information while enabling law enforcement to pursue criminal violations effectively. The statement emphasized a commitment to ensuring public safety and accountability regarding public benefits used by undocumented immigrants.
On the same day, Long announced that Trump intended to nominate him as ambassador to Iceland, a role he was set to assume after less than two months in his IRS position. In a light-hearted comment, Long mentioned a conversation with Trump, humorously suggesting a mix-up regarding his interest in joining ICE versus heading to Iceland.
A White House official later praised Long’s performance at the IRS, confirming that his promotion to ambassador had been planned.
No comments:
Post a Comment