Republicans Are Hyping Unprecedented IRS Data Sharing, Despite Privacy Concerns

As long as it’s in pursuit of Trump’s immigration goals, Republicans say they are OK with the IRS handing over taxpayer information.

Internal Revenue Service building

Oliver Contreras/Sipa USA via AP

The Internal Revenue Service could soon start handing over data of undocumented immigrants to immigration agents, a move that Democrats say puts privacy at risk for everyone.

Republicans said the unprecedented data-sharing move would be fine as long as it was in service of President Donald Trump’s immigration goals.

“If you are here illegally, your privacy rights are highly attenuated,” Sen. Josh Hawley told NOTUS. “If they’re here [illegally], I don’t want them to be here. I would like there to be a chilling effect. I would like them to return home and to get in line, please.”