An internal memo delivered to the Veterans Affairs team has ordered them to make an internal database documenting non-US citizens.
The leaked document, seen by The Guardian, has prompted outrage from government representatives who believe the order was made to "decimate and demoralize" VA workers. Democratic congresswoman Delia Ramirez, who is part of the oversight and investigations subcommittee on the House veterans affairs committee, said there could be "far-reaching" implications for the Trump administration's VA changes.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is in the process of creating a "new internal database" to log and monitor non-US citizens "employed or affiliated" with the government department. A VA spokesperson did not rule out the possibility of this internal information being fed to other government departments, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
A spokesperson said, "VA will share any adverse findings with the appropriate agencies to ensure anyone who is not authorized to be in the US is dealt with accordingly."
The memo seen by The Guardian suggests the system will be in place as early as the end of this year. It reads, "By December 30, 2025, the office of operations, security, and preparedness must provide the secretary of veterans affairs a report of all non-United States citizens who are employed by or affiliated with VA."
Pete Kasperowicz, a VA spokesperson said in a statement: “VA is required by federal law to continuously vet all employees and affiliates, such as unpaid researchers and others who may have access to VA data or systems, to ensure they meet the federal government’s trusted workforce standards."
Democratic congresswoman Delia Ramirez said, "List-making by the state is an authoritarian tactic meant to stoke fear. At the direction of Secretary Collins, the VA is persecuting noncitizen employees who provide essential services and benefits to our veterans."
"The reported memo could have far-reaching implications. Attacking immigrants authorized to work is just another way [US president] Trump and the [VA] Secretary seek to deconstruct, decimate, and demoralize the VA workforce."
Nayna Gupta, policy director at the American Immigration Council went on to say the internal data collection is an "intimidation" tactic used by the government.
She claimed, "Once information is collected on who is a non-citizen, and the exact status and posture of their protections and rights to be in the United States, it becomes incredibly easy for the federal government to make an effort to get that information."
"This data collection and reporting is a form of intimidation, in a context where a list of names of non-citizens can so obviously get into the hands of an agency pursuing this agenda."