NEWS: Sen. Schiff Raises Alarm on Collection of VA Data for Immigration Enforcement

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is demanding answers after a memo revealed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is collecting data of noncitizens "employed by or affiliated with" VA to share with other federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Schiff is raising concern the data will be used to further the Trump administration's mass detention and deportation agenda and instill fear among the veteran community and those who serve them.

In a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the Senator is demanding the legal basis of this database and warns these actions threaten to prevent noncitizen veterans from receiving their eligible health care and benefits.

"Instead of prioritizing the pressing service needs and care for veterans, VA is reported to have collected information on noncitizen employees and affiliates and presented them to Secretary Collins by December 30, 2025. This reported database of VA employees and affiliates exacerbates fear among noncitizens and will lead to diminished levels of care for veterans. We request that VA provide the intent for this database at this time and its plan to protect individuals' privacy," the Senator wrote.

The Senator also emphasizes this intimidation tactic wastes critical resources for VA personnel at a time when the agency is facing staffing shortages - with California facing some of the most severe shortages of personnel.

"Employees and affiliates of the VA provide critical services to veteran communities and are doing so under challenging conditions where the provision of health care, counseling, employment, and education resources is under strain. In fact, VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report detailing the critical staffing shortages and increased wait times for veterans trying to access necessary care throughout the system," the Senator continued.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Secretary Collins and Secretary Noem,

I write to express alarm regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reported memo outlining the collection of data for all non-citizens "employed by or affiliated with" VA and the potential sharing of that information with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for immigration enforcement efforts. These intimidation tactics waste critical time and resources for VA personnel that are already stretched thin. Instead of prioritizing the pressing service needs and care for veterans, VA is reported to have collected information on noncitizen employees and affiliates and presented them to Secretary Collins by December 30, 2025. This reported database of VA employees and affiliates exacerbates fear among noncitizens and will lead to diminished levels of care for veterans. We request that VA provide the intent for this database at this time and its plan to protect individuals' privacy.

VA employees undergo a rigorous background check and are subject to the Continuous Vetting process that replaced the traditional clearance investigation process in 2018, under the first Trump Administration. This system conducts real-time automated vetting of employees, affiliates, researchers, unpaid interns, and all others with access to the VA system, according to VA Press Secretary Peter Kasperowicz. This process occurs regardless of an individual's citizenship or immigration status, ensuring that those who are currently employed by or "affiliated" with VA, are law-abiding individuals.

Employees and affiliates of the VA provide critical services to veteran communities and are doing so under challenging conditions where the provision of health care, counseling, employment, and education resources is under strain. In fact, VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report detailing the critical staffing shortages and increased wait times for veterans trying to access necessary care throughout the system. California faces some of the most severe shortages of personnel at VA facilities in the country.

As you know, more than 25 percent of all VA employees are veterans themselves, underscoring the absurdity of this effort. Citizenship is not a requirement to serve in our armed forces, and our military has been strengthened by the leadership and contributions of those born outside the country who embrace the U.S. as their home. The request for noncitizen data, specifically, can be viewed only as a thinly veiled effort to instill fear within the VA community, which will likely be used to conduct immigration enforcement efforts targeting (1) individuals who serve our veterans or (2) veterans who serve their fellow veterans.

I respectfully request answers to the following questions no later than February 12, 2026.

1. Have you, Secretary Collins, or any VA officials reviewed a report on noncitizens employed or affiliated with the VA?
2. What evaluation and analysis have VA performed to assess the impact on services to veterans if VA noncitizen employees and affiliates are detained or deported by immigration officials?
3. Please identify all categories of information the VA is collecting on noncitizen employees and affiliates.
   • What legal authority is the VA relying on to create and maintain such a database?
   • What legal analysis has the VA conducted to ensure this database and the information it contains is compliant with the Privacy Act, HIPPA, and state laws regarding sensitive, personally identifiable information?
4. Has the VA shared the report or any of its contents with the Department of Homeland Security? If yes, please provide information on which DHS officials, offices, and divisions received access to such contents.
5. Has the VA started to share personnel information obtained as a result of the data collection efforts with the Department of Homeland Security? If not, does it intend to do so and when?
6. Does the Department of Homeland Security intend to conduct immigration enforcement actions in or around VA facilities?
7. Does DHS intend to prevent noncitizen veterans from obtaining health care or other services to which they are lawfully entitled?
8. Does DHS plan to detain or deport VA employees, affiliates, including children and spouses that are eligible to receive these benefits, or noncitizen veterans seeking services from the VA?

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