SEATTLE, Wash. — Washington joined other states in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Tuesday.
The lawsuit challenges HHS’ decision to give unrestricted access of individual personal health data to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which operates Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The Medicaid Act was enacted by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, allowing the provision of medical help to vulnerable populations.
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said Tuesday the mass transfer of confidential patients’ data violates the law and asked the U.S. Court for the Northern District of California to block any new transfer or use of the data for immigration enforcement purposes.
“Washington residents expect that the confidential information they give to the government to access medical treatment will only be used for healthcare purposes,” said Brown. “Their data should not go towards creating a giant database of Americans’ personal information or used so that ICE can deport undocumented immigrants because they had to go to the doctor.” “The Trump Administration’s use of Washingtonians’ private health information for its own political agenda is outrageous. This is a violation of trust for everyone whose data was inappropriately shared, but especially our immigrant communities and mixed-status families, who are already being targeted by the Trump Administration. We will stand up for the dignity and right to privacy of all Washingtonians,” said Governor Bob Ferguson.
The state attorney general’s office said states learned on June 13, 2025 through news reports that HHS had transferred millions of Medicaid data files to DHS to create a sweeping database for “mass deportations” and other large-scale immigration operations.
Washington joins attorneys general of California, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island in filing the lawsuit.
As of January, 78.4 million people nationwide were enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) nationwide.
Washington’s Medicaid program is operated under the Apple Health suite of health benefits programs.
There are nearly two million people enrolled in Apple Health in Washington.
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