Bo Tefu | California Black Media
California U.S. Senators Raise Alarm Over Trump Admin Sharing Personal Medicaid Data With ICE
California’s U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff are raising alarm over reports that the federal government is sharing Medicaid recipients’ personal health information with immigration authorities.
In a letter to top officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Padilla and Schiff called for an immediate end to the data sharing and demanded that any information already transferred be destroyed.
“We are deeply troubled that this administration intends to use individuals’ private health information for the unrelated purpose of possible enforcement actions targeting lawful noncitizens and mixed status families,” the senators wrote. “The decision by HHS to share confidential health information with DHS is a remarkable departure from established federal privacy protections that should alarm all Americans.”
The June 10 transfer reportedly included names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and immigration status of Medicaid enrollees, despite objections from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) officials. CMS warned that “multiple federal statutory and regulatory authorities do not permit CMS to share this information with entities outside of CMS,” according to the letter.
The senators are requesting legal justification for the data transfer and they are asking HHS to identify which states were involved, how the information was shared, and how DHS plans to use it. California is one of seven states reportedly targeted.
Padilla and Schiff emphasized that federal privacy laws, including the Privacy Act and HIPAA, limit how agencies may use or share personally identifiable health data. They are calling for full transparency, cancellation of any information-sharing agreements between HHS and DHS, and a return to policies that safeguard public trust in health programs like Medicaid.
The lawmakers have given federal officials until July 9 to respond.
California Backs South LA Black Cultural District With $3 Million in State Funding
California is moving forward with a plan to create a Black Cultural District in South Los Angeles, backed by $3 million in state funding secured by State Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles).
The effort aims to formally recognize the historic and cultural contributions of one of the state’s largest Black communities.
The proposed district will honor neighborhoods like the Crenshaw Corridor, Leimert Park, and Historic Central Avenue. The funding will go toward public art, cultural markers, and monuments celebrating Black life, history, and creativity in South LA.
“This is about uplifting the powerful narrative of Black people in California’s history,” said Karen Mack, executive director of LA Commons, a nonprofit leading the community effort. “Everyone has a story to tell, and these stories help build belonging and connection.”
The district will be formally proposed to the California Arts Council, which oversees official state cultural district designations. Supporters say it will help protect Black heritage in the face of growing threats, including gentrification, displacement, and climate disasters.
Smallwood-Cuevas called the initiative a vital step toward long-term cultural preservation. “Without formal efforts like this, our history remains vulnerable,” she said. “I am proud to lead the charge to ensure our communities are seen, celebrated, and protected.”
To mark the occasion, LA Commons will host its annual Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks on June 29 in Leimert Park. The event will feature African diaspora art, performance, and ceremony, and include a special appearance by Smallwood-Cuevas.
As part of the initiative, LA Commons also released a new report summarizing early community input and design ideas. It outlines a vision for how local artists, designers, and architects can shape the district’s future.
Organizers say this project is about more than one neighborhood. It’s part of a growing statewide movement to recognize and preserve Black cultural assets and ensure they remain a central part of California’s story.
