Social Security Workers Are Being Told to Hand Over Appointment Details to ICE

Wired

by Zoë Schiffer, Vittoria Elliott, Leah Feiger

February 13, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Social Security Administration (SSA) workers have been instructed to share details about in-person appointments with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. This new directive allows ICE to inquire about appointment dates and times for individuals visiting SSA offices. While most SSA appointments are conducted over the phone, some require in-person meetings, particularly for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, need sign language interpreters, or must update direct deposit information. Noncitizens may also be required to attend in-person reviews for benefit eligibility. This policy shift marks a significant escalation in collaboration between the SSA and DHS (ICE's parent agency). Although the SSA has historically shared data with DHS under certain circumstances, revealing appointment details is a departure from previous practices. Critics argue that this undermines the SSA's role as a "safe space" for individuals seeking benefits, regardless of immigration status. Leland Dudek, former acting SSA commissioner, warns that such cooperation could diminish public trust in the agency. The directive reflects broader efforts by the Trump administration to integrate SSA data into immigration enforcement. Earlier reports revealed that the SSA had officially updated its public notices to confirm sharing "citizenship and immigration information" with DHS. This move has sparked legal challenges, with a Massachusetts judge recently ruling that the IRS and SSA cannot share taxpayer data with ICE or DHS. Critics say this new policy could expose noncitizens to increased risks of immigration enforcement. For readers interested in tech and science, this story highlights concerns over government data privacy and misuse. The potential for SSA records to be weaponized for immigration enforcement raises ethical questions about how agencies balance public services with national security priorities. This shift also underscores the growing tension between federal agencies' roles in administering benefits and their involvement in immigration enforcement. In summary, the SSA's new directive to share appointment details with ICE represents a significant escalation in data

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Originally published on Wired on 2/13/2026