Mike Moen
Illinois News Connection
Tax filing season has wrapped up but the backlash over a new IRS policy concerning undocumented individuals is not going away.
A retired agency official from Illinois said her heart breaks for the people she served over the years. A deal has been struck between the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security to share the sensitive taxpayer information of those facing deportation. Officials said locating “violent criminals” is part of the goal.
Yolanda Ruiz worked for the IRS for 33 years doing outreach work in Latino communities, including tax-filing workshops. She would stress submitting a return would not overlap with immigration enforcement.
“In that outreach, I would always reassure undocumented immigrants that we would not share their personal information with ICE,” Ruiz recounted. “And I also encouraged filing and paying their taxes, because it could ultimately help them with legalization and citizenship.”
She explained their application approval odds might improve if they showed consistency in paying taxes. Researchers noted people without legal status pay income taxes through a specialized number. In 2023, those households paid nearly $90 billion in taxes. But Ruiz, who is not speaking for the agency, worries the new agreement will undo the trust those like her worked so hard to build.
Ruiz agreed with immigrants’ advocates who said some people are now afraid to file tax returns, which could mean less revenue for the federal government, potentially limiting community resources. She added she was devastated upon hearing the news about a policy opposite of the long-standing approach in serving immigrants.
“I really can’t help but to feel like I let them down,” Ruiz explained. “My heart hurts and I pray for the immigrants.”
The fallout is being felt within the agency, too, with the acting IRS commissioner reportedly resigning this month because of the agreement with Homeland Security.
