The Puerto Rico Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados y Abogadas de Puerto Rico) said on Friday, October 16, that it opposes the Transportation and Public Works Department (DTOP) handing confidential information on migrants in Puerto Rico to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) without a court order. DTOP provided data on 6,321 people, which the Bar described as a violation of Law 91-2013, which lets immigrants apply for provisional driver’s licenses with confidentiality guarantees.
In written statements, the Bar expressed "energetic indignation." The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued DTOP for refusing to disclose information about the federal request. After court rulings in its favor, the ACLU received from DTOP, on October 14, copies of the documents the agency gave ICE.
The Bar noted that the San Juan court, the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court all ruled for the plaintiffs. On October 14, 2026, the Puerto Rico Supreme Court denied ("no ha lugar") DTOP’s second motion for reconsideration aimed at preventing release of the requested public information. The Bar said the ruling protects the right of access to public information.
It said the action makes the local government "an accomplice" in ICE’s abusive acts against the migrant community and that the government stubbornly refused to provide the information on time. It demanded that the government handle confidential information responsibly and urged the officials involved to reevaluate their "stay in public service." It thanked the ACLU and other civil organizations.