California Shares ID Data Amid Immigration Concerns | Santa Barbara News

California just approved a major data-sharing deal that could expose millions of immigrants to deportation risks — despite fierce backlash from advocates. Governor Newsom signed a budget paving the way for the state to feed driver’s license and ID data into a national network, potentially revealing undocumented residents through partial SSNs. While officials say it’s essential for REAL ID compliance and airport access, critics call it a betrayal — warning the system, though designed for single checks, could still be weaponized. New safeguards include Attorney General oversight, public reporting, and audits — but activists argue they’re insufficient, especially since court orders could still force data handovers. The state’s pouring $55 million into the system, and while officials insist it’s for compliance, many fear the real cost is personal freedom. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/4e437d7a053772f6