A powerful coalition of 20 Democrat-led states has filed a major lawsuit against the Biden administration for quietly approving a rule that shares Medicaid enrollee data with immigration authorities. California Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading the charge, warning this move will terrify families into avoiding medical care.

The lawsuit targets a new federal directive allowing the Department of Homeland Security to access private health records, including names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and immigration status. Officials say this violates both HIPAA privacy laws and public health ethics.

Bonta warned: “This will scare people away from getting care.” Civil rights groups agree, saying it’s another step in the criminalization of undocumented communities. Meanwhile, supporters of the policy argue it’s necessary to prevent fraud and misuse of federal resources.

States like California, Illinois, and Washington argue this rule undermines their Medicaid-like programs for undocumented immigrants and increases complexity in an already overstretched healthcare system. They accuse the Biden team of bending to Trump-era enforcement strategies.

This case isn’t just about immigration. It’s about the line between healthcare and surveillance—and whether Americans should worry about who’s watching when they seek medical help.

Should healthcare be a trap? Or a sanctuary? What side are you on?