WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews) — The Department of Housing and Urban Development, under Secretary Scott Turner, is moving to tighten enforcement of federal housing rules by requiring Section 8 tenants to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status.
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Turner announced Friday that HUD has launched a nationwide audit of public housing authorities, warning that federal funding could be withheld from agencies that fail to verify tenant eligibility. The move follows President Donald Trump’s executive order directing federal agencies to ensure that taxpayer-funded benefits do not extend to undocumented immigrants.
“No longer will illegal aliens be able to leave citizenship boxes blank or take advantage of HUD-funded housing, riding the coattails of hardworking American citizens,” Turner said in a statement.
Federal law already prohibits noncitizens without legal status from receiving housing assistance, but past administrations have allowed local housing authorities discretion in enforcement. HUD officials say the new audit will standardize compliance nationwide and prioritize American citizens and legal residents.
The agency has also signed a data-sharing agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to help identify ineligible tenants. Critics, including immigrant advocates and some lawmakers, argue that the policy could discourage eligible mixed-status families from applying for housing aid and raise privacy concerns over the use of personal data.
HUD is separately implementing new restrictions on Federal Housing Administration–backed mortgages, eliminating eligibility for applicants without permanent legal residency. That change, which took effect in May, excludes recipients of programs such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and those with pending asylum cases.
Turner said the measures are aimed at restoring integrity to housing programs and ensuring that benefits reach citizens and lawful residents. “American families should not have to compete with those here illegally for housing supported by their tax dollars,” he said.
