Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González Colón on Thursday rejected a claim by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) that the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP) voluntarily handed migrants’ information to federal authorities, saying the agency responded to a federal subpoena. "You are starting from an incorrect premise," she told reporters, adding that she regrets that "such a prestigious organization" made an incorrect statement.
She called describing the handover as voluntary "irresponsible" and said Puerto Rico government agencies must comply with federal mandates. Asked whether the subpoena was received first and the information delivered afterward, she answered, "Correct." The reaction follows the ACLU’s questioning of DTOP’s handling of information given to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The ACLU said it is weighing legal action in state and federal courts. Its executive director, Annette Martínez Orabona, said the group requested the federal demand in June 2025 but DTOP did not release the documents until after litigation. According to the information given to the ACLU, the federal demand was sent to DTOP on January 26, 2025, and sought data on people in the agency’s records.
The ACLU said the documents included names, birth dates, citizenship, home addresses, town, zip code and phone numbers of 6,321 people, mostly with undefined immigration status. Attorney Fermín Arraiza said the organization is evaluating civil rights claims against federal and state officials, including individual suits or a class action.