US states sue over Trump demand to collect details of food assistance recipients

Attorneys general challenge request for data of people enrolled in federally funded food assistance program

A coalition of 20 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit on Monday challenging the Trump administration's demand that their states turn over personal data of people enrolled in a federally funded food assistance program, fearing the information will be used to aid mass deportations.

The data demand comes as the Trump administration has sought to collect private information on mostly lower-income people who may be in the country illegally. It has already ordered the Internal Revenue Service and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to share private information with the Department of Homeland Security to aid in deportation efforts.