Michigan's top legal officer, Attorney General Dana Nessel, has decided to take on the Trump administration over what she and her colleagues describe as illegal sharing of private medical data. Joining forces with a coalition of attorneys general from 19 other states, Nessel has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), accusing it of providing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with broad access to individuals' personal health information, beyond the scope permitted for Medicaid administration.
According to a statement from Nessel, "Our personal healthcare data is exactly that: personal." She emphasizes that such data should be confidential and limited to agencies directly connected with Medicaid. The Trump administration's recent decision to grant wider access to these records, she argues, could compromise the health, privacy, and overall well-being of Michigan residents. The lawsuit, as reported by the Michigan Department of Attorney General's website, seeks to block any further distribution or use of this information for immigration enforcement.
Medicaid, which was established in 1965, serves as an important source of health insurance for lower-income sectors, covering ranges that include children, pregnant women, individuals with disabilities, and seniors. It is a state-administered program that complies with federal guidelines while allowing states to customize their eligibility criteria and benefits according to local needs. As of January 2025, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) cater to over 78 million Americans.
Much is at stake in Michigan, where Medicaid and CHIP insurance extend to more than a quarter of the population, including over 1 million children, almost half of the state's youthful demographic. The exchange of personal data is a routine part of the federal-state Medicaid partnership, intended to verify eligibility and secure federal funding. Reports emerging through news outlets on June 13, 2025, however, suggest that HHS has turned over vast swaths of personal health data to DHS. This has raised alarms regarding the potential creation of a database geared toward "mass deportations" and intensified immigration enforcement, revelations that have not included any official acknowledgment of transferring data from Michigan residents.
