ICE Buys Immigrant Tax IDs From Data Brokers, Circumventing Warrant Requirements

ICE has contracted with a commercial data broker for $10 million to purchase records tied to Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers, which the IRS issues to people without lawful immigration status. The Fourth Amendment restricts direct government surveillance, but not purchases from private intermediaries. No federal law currently prohibits agencies from buying sensitive personal data from brokers, though the House passed legislation in 2024 to address the gap.