The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is seeking to gain access to a federal database designed to track child support payments—a move that could expand the government’s ability to locate individuals for immigration enforcement.
According to reporting by ProPublica, officials have discussed whether DHS could obtain information from the Federal Parent Locator Service, a system maintained by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The system helps states locate parents who owe child support.
One part of the system, the National Directory of New Hires, collects employment data reported by employers across the United States. The database includes wage and employment information for millions of workers.
Officials familiar with the discussions said DHS is evaluating whether this information could help immigration authorities locate undocumented immigrants. Although the database does not contain immigration status information, employment records could potentially help identify individuals’ locations.
The proposal has raised public concerns because federal law limits access and use of the child support system. Immigration enforcement is not currently listed as an authorized purpose for accessing the data.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the agency has not received a formal request from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to access the database. A DHS spokesperson also said the Department is not currently seeking access to the Federal Parent Locator Service.
The Bottom Line
If immigration authorities gain access to employment information collected through the child support system, it will likely prompt immediate legal challenges seeking to safeguard individual privacy and sensitive data involving children that is unrelated to immigration.
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