Trump DOJ Grants DOGE Access to Sensitive Immigration Data, Raising Privacy Concerns
A in recent days surfaced statement has revealed a decision from the Trump administration that s now setting off alarm bells among civil rights groups and privacy watchdogs an internal agency known as the Department of Establishment Efficiency or DOGE was reportedly granted access to sensitive immigration occurrence information The DOGE an experimental tech-focused agency with links to entrepreneur Elon Musk was originally created to modernize authorities evidence systems But its quiet access to immigration records including names addresses circumstance statuses and interactions with immigration officers is being called deeply troubling by advocates who say it could have long-term consequences Wait What Is DOGE The Department of Leadership Efficiency isn t exactly a household name Created under the Trump administration DOGE was designed as a pilot undertaking to bring tech-style innovation to federal agencies Think Silicon Valley meets Washington D C Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk left and Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump attend a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show Saturday Oct in Butler Pa AP Photo Alex Brandon Various of its projects involved figures clean-up automating outdated systems and improving how agencies process paperwork Elon Musk was reportedly a behind-the-scenes advocate of the concept encouraging private-public tech partnerships that would streamline federal operations But what started as a seemingly harmless idea has now come under scrutiny especially after internal documents reportedly displayed that DOGE had access to real immigration scenario material Why This Matters We re not talking about generic stats or reports The material DOGE accessed included personally identifiable information names development numbers legal filings and in a few cases fitness and biometric material tied to immigration screenings This isn t just about efficiency mentioned one legal analyst This is about access to extremely sensitive information that could be misused or mishandled especially by a organization that may not be fully trained in immigration law or privacy rights Immigration advocates fear that the evidence could be used to target certain individuals or families based on political motives especially given how contentious immigration enforcement became during the Trump years How Did This Happen According to a newest investigative overview senior Trump administration representatives authorized DOGE to sponsorship immigration agencies with records modernization But that aid it seems came with the digital keys to the entire system One anonymous regime official familiar with the matter called the access comprehensive more than what majority of field agents even had Pushback from Civil Rights Groups The American Civil Liberties Union ACLU and other organizations have already begun demanding accountability They re asking how DOGE got access to this information who approved it and the majority importantly what happened to the information after the pilot project ended This is very concerning reported an ACLU spokesperson It s a dangerous precedent when non-immigration agencies with unclear oversight are allowed into these highly personal records Several lawmakers have also started asking questions A meager members of Congress are reportedly preparing letters demanding answers from the Justice Department and other related federal agencies Is It Even Legal That s the million-dollar question Legal experts are split Various say it could violate privacy laws like the Privacy Act of which places tight restrictions on how federal agencies handle personal evidence Others argue that if DOGE was considered an internal administration office it may technically have been allowed even if ethically questionable Either way lawsuits may be on the horizon And the community pushback is likely to continue especially as more details emerge about how DOGE operated and who was behind the decisions Looking Ahead As of now there s no official word from Elon Musk or current executive leaders on the matter The Biden administration has not commented on whether DOGE still exists in any form or if the campaign was dismantled after the change in leadership What s clear however is that questions about how personal information is handled especially when it comes to vulnerable communities like immigrants aren t going away This is about trust reported a former DOJ employee Trust that when you apply for a visa seek asylum or follow the legal process your personal story won t end up on someone s experiment board
