Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE) is a non-profit regional law firm that provides high quality legal assistance in civil matters to help eligible low-income individuals and groups in western Ohio achieve self reliance, and equal justice and economic opportunity.
ABLE Condemns Federal Release of Medicaid Data to Immigration Enforcement
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE) strongly condemns the reported release of personal information about non-citizen Medicaid enrollees by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to immigration enforcement agencies. This alarming breach of trust undermines federal privacy protections and endangers the health and safety of immigrant families.
It is important to note that Ohio adheres to the strictest immigration status requirements permitted by federal law for Medicaid eligibility. Only qualifying aliens such as lawful permanent residents with more than 5 years in status, trafficking victims, and other immigrants expressly permitted by federal law are eligible for Medicaid in Ohio. Sharing sensitive health data with immigration officials violates long-standing legal and ethical standards. It places older adults, people with disabilities, and U.S. citizen children in harm’s way and fosters fear within communities already vulnerable to discrimination. These actions discourage individuals from seeking the medical care and support services they need to survive.
This disclosure is part of a broader pattern of anti-immigrant policies that threaten access to essential services like health care, housing, and economic security. It decreases public confidence in government programs and jeopardizes the health of entire communities.
ABLE calls on federal officials to immediately halt the misuse of Medicaid and other personal data for immigration enforcement purposes. All people should be able to trust that the information they provide to access care will be kept confidential and used to support, not harm, their families. We will continue to advocate for policies that respect the dignity, privacy, and rights of everyone.