A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration can access Medicaid data to identify and locate people without legal status for deportation cases, effective January 7, 2026. The ruling rejected a legal challenge brought by 20 Democratic state attorneys general in July 2025. ICE is permitted to access citizenship status, immigration status, address, phone number, date of birth, and Medicaid ID—but not health information—for people unlawfully present in the U.S. Public health advocates expressed concern that the practice could deter undocumented immigrants from seeking healthcare, while Republican officials view it as a significant enforcement tool.