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DHS Expands SAVE Program to Include U.S. Citizens, Violating Privacy Act

U.S. Department of Homeland SecurityDecember 1, 2025California Attorney General

Summary

California Attorney General Rob Bonta co-led a coalition of 18 attorneys general in submitting a comment letter opposing the Department of Homeland Security's expansion of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program to include U.S.-born citizens. The coalition argues the expansion violates the Privacy Act of 1974, creates a massive surveillance database, increases data breach risks, and will lead to inaccurate verifications and denial of benefits.

Remedy

The coalition urges DHS to rescind the SAVE program expansion, arguing it violates the Privacy Act by adding records of natural-born citizens without consent and creates unacceptable privacy and security risks.

Corrective Notice

Laws Cited

Privacy Act of 1974

Violation Types

Entity Details

Entity

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Also known as: Department of Homeland Security

Industry

Other

Multistate Coalition

Official Sources

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