WASHINGTON: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is asking the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to give them the addresses of around 700,000 immigrants they want to deport. However, this has become a big issue because there are strict rules about keeping taxpayer information private.

So far, the IRS has refused to share the information. They have said that the law does not allow them to give out taxpayer details. But the Trump administration is trying different ways to get the IRS involved in its plan to remove undocumented immigrants.

Many immigrants in the U.S. still pay taxes, even though they don’t have Social Security numbers. The IRS gives them something called an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) so they can file their tax returns. This means the IRS has important details about them, like where they live, who they work for, and how much they earn.

But the law is very clear, this information is private. If anyone shares it without permission, they are breaking the law. Sources say IRS officials reminded DHS that these rules must be followed.
Neither the IRS nor DHS has made any official statements yet. The Washington Post was the first to report this news.

Trump’s Strict Immigration Rules

The Trump administration has been very strict about immigration. They are working on creating a migrant database and are even thinking about using military sites for deportations.

DHS has also asked the IRS for help in the past. They wanted tax officials to check businesses suspected of hiring undocumented workers. There were even talks about sending IRS agents to the U.S.-Mexico border.

IRS Facing Problems Too: While all this is happening, the IRS itself is dealing with problems. More than 7,000 employees have lost their jobs under the Trump administration. Just last week, Acting Commissioner Doug O’Donnell resigned, making him the second top official to leave in a short time.

The government is also trying to change how the IRS works. Recently, the agency allowed a team from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to review tax data (without names) to find ways to improve government programs.

Both Trump and Musk have even suggested that the IRS should be shut down completely. This has made many people wonder what will happen to the agency in the future.