Cuomo: Trump Admin Plans To Use COVID Vax Program As “Backdoor” To Deporting Undocumented Immigrants

The New York Daily News reports:

Gov. Cuomo said he and other governors received a request from the federal Department of Health and Human Services to provide the feds with “ID numbers” for all COVID-19 patients once a vaccine is approved and distribution begins.

Such personal data can be retrieved from passports, driver’s licenses or Social Security cards, posing a problem for immigrants without legal status, Cuomo warned.

“Why would you possibly need a person’s driver’s license number or Social Security number or passport number before they receive a vaccine? Why? There is no legitimate health reason,” the governor said during a call with reporters.

Governor Cuomo Calls into Question Federal Administration’s Demand for ID Numbers of New Yorkers Who Receive COVID-19 Vaccine https://t.co/wELf7n2onx via @nygovcuomo

— Campaign Supporters of Governor Andrew Cuomo (@CampaignGov) November 2, 2020

The Trump administration is trying to use its COVID-19 vaccine program as a backdoor for deporting immigrants, Cuomo says.

“Why would you … need a … driver’s license or S.S. or passport number [for a] vaccine? … No legitimate reason.” @NYGovCuomohttps://t.co/u73jQFV5vl

— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) November 2, 2020