Colorado
Emergency Assistance Privacy Protection Act Seeks to Restrict Federal Data Sharing
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Key points
- Federal lawmakers introduced HR 10893 to prevent FEMA from sharing disaster survivor data with ICE.
- The bill follows privacy concerns after major wildland fires burned over 100,000 acres across Colorado.
- A companion bill requires a criminal warrant before immigration officials can access third-party disaster relief records.
How Does the FEMA ICE Data Sharing Bill Protect Residents?
NewsWK — Federal lawmakers introduced new legislation to limit data sharing during natural disasters. The Emergency Assistance Privacy Protection Act stops FEMA from sharing survivor details with immigration officials. Representative Brittany Pettersen announced the measure on October 22, 2026, during an immigration roundtable in Lakewood, Colorado. Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove also co-sponsored the federal bill during the 119th Congress.
Emergency agencies collect survivor data to manage relief efforts and issue re-entry passes. However, privacy concerns arose after the 2026 Willow and Aspen Acres Fires burned over 100,000 acres in Custer and Lake counties. Thousands of residents evacuated their homes Local advocates then worried that agencies would share re-entry card details with immigration officers. Therefore, lawmakers drafted the bill to stop federal agencies from sharing relief records without permission.
How Do Restrictive Rules Change Emergency Operations?
The proposed restrictions establish strict legal boundaries on personal records gathered during crisis situations. Lawmakers also introduced a companion measure called the Disaster Data Protection Act. This companion bill prohibits ICE from obtaining third-party disaster data without a judicial warrant. But supporters argue that both bills ensure residents can ask for help without fear.
Why Is Colorado Disaster Privacy Legislation Gaining Support? Emergency Assistance Privacy Protection Act
Community organizations gathered in Lakewood to back the Brittany Pettersen FEMA bill and related measures. For example, Alex Sánchez, president of Voces Unidas, publicly endorsed the federal legislation. Representatives from Casa de Paz and the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition also supported the initiative. Still, Congress must vote on the legislation before the restrictions take effect.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Sources
Related: FEMA Disaster Aid Faces New Scrutiny as White House Pushes States to Lead
Related: Rep Brittany Pettersen Introduces Disaster Data Protection Act for Colorado Emergency Privacy
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