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ProPublica: DHS Demanding Access to Federal Parent Locator Service

HeadlineMar 19, 2026

ProPublica is reporting that the Department of Homeland Security is demanding access to the Federal Parent Locator Service. It’s a database holding the name, address, Social Security number, employer and salary of every employed person in the U.S., plus sensitive information on children and domestic violence victims. The service is used by the government to find people who owe child support. Federal law explicitly bars DHS from using the database, but the Department of Health and Human Services is actively considering the request.

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