Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of states asked the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on March 27 to enforce its preliminary injunction that blocks the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from sharing large sets of Medicaid recipient data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The coalition’s request follows reports that HHS provided ICE with a complex data set, despite an existing court order prohibiting such transfers involving citizens and lawful permanent residents.
The issue is significant because broad sharing of Medicaid recipient information could deter vulnerable populations from enrolling in health programs for which they are eligible. “Broad sharing of data about Medicaid recipients is a violation of privacy and will have a chilling effect on the most vulnerable populations’ willingness to enroll in Medicaid programs for which they are legally eligible,” Raoul said. “I will continue to use all the tools at my disposal to fight back against the Trump administration’s unlawful actions that target Illinoisans.”
Medicaid, established in 1965, provides essential health insurance coverage for low-income individuals, children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and seniors across the United States. Each state can tailor its own plan within federal guidelines to meet local needs. As reported by federal sources, as of January 2025 there were 78.4 million people enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP nationwide.
In Illinois alone, more than three million individuals rely on Medicaid or related affordable healthcare programs for their medical coverage each year—making it the state’s largest source of health insurance coverage according to official state information.
Raoul’s office has advocated for vulnerable groups including workers, immigrants and seniors according to the official website. The office also handles thousands of consumer complaints annually according to its website, aims to protect consumers while promoting safer communities according to its website, extends advocacy efforts statewide according to its website, partners with law enforcement agencies according to its website, and offers services such as complaint filing for consumer fraud and civil rights issues according to its website.
The lawsuit filed by Raoul’s coalition last July alleged that HHS’s transfer violated laws designed to protect patient privacy by causing fear among noncitizens who may then avoid seeking emergency care or enrolling in vital health services.
Looking ahead, Attorney General Raoul was joined by attorneys general from twenty other states as well as Kentucky’s governor in asking the court not only to enforce but also clarify its order regarding which individuals’ data is protected—and require explanations from federal agencies about what information has been shared.