In a sweeping move that has ignited fierce debate across the nation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced on August 29, 2025, a nationwide crackdown on undocumented immigrants living in federally subsidized housing. The new policy, spearheaded by HUD Secretary Scott Turner under the directive of President Donald Trump, requires all Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status for every tenant receiving Section 8 vouchers or residing in HUD-funded housing. Housing authorities now have just 30 days to comply, or they risk losing critical federal funding.
"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 declared in a statement, as reported by VINnews. The department, he explained, has already launched a nationwide audit of public housing authorities and signed a data-sharing agreement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to help identify ineligible tenants.
This latest HUD initiative is part of a broader Trump administration campaign to ensure that taxpayer-funded benefits do not extend to undocumented immigrants. Back in March, Turner and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem jointly announced the "American Housing Programs for American Citizens" initiative, which aims to end what they called the "wasteful misappropriation of taxpayer dollars to benefit illegal aliens instead of American citizens." According to the Tampa Free Press, Turner reinforced this stance on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime,” stating, "American citizens will be prioritized when it comes to living in HUD-funded, government-funded housing."
The policy shift is not limited to rental assistance. In May, new restrictions on Federal Housing Administration (FHA)–backed mortgages took effect, making applicants without permanent legal residency ineligible—including recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and those with pending asylum cases. Turner argued these measures are about restoring integrity to housing programs and ensuring 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.
HUD’s new requirements are sweeping. Each PHA must now provide a comprehensive accounting within 30 days of all tenants receiving Section 8 vouchers or living in HUD-funded housing. This includes names, mailing addresses, the number of bedrooms, the cost of each unit, and, most crucially, proof of American citizenship or eligible immigration status as defined by law. As Turner told Fox News’ Charles Hurt, "We want the names, the address, the number of people in the unit, the size of the unit, the cost of the unit. And they must give us their American citizenship status or an eligible immigration status. No longer will we allow illegal aliens to live in taxpayer-funded housing here in America."
Housing authorities that fail to comply face potentially severe consequences. As Turner outlined in his April letter to HUD grantees and stakeholders, "HUD will leverage all available enforcement actions against entities who do not comply with the request for citizenship information, including, but not limited to, examination of HUD funding and/or evaluation of PHA program eligibility." In other words, non-compliant PHAs could lose their federal funding or be declared ineligible for future participation in HUD programs.
Supporters of the policy, particularly among Republican lawmakers, have praised the move as overdue. Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio posted on X, "Anyone in this country illegally should be deported, not given publicly funded housing!" The Trump administration has argued that lax enforcement under previous administrations, especially during the Biden years, contributed to a situation in which only one out of four eligible American families receives HUD assistance. Turner attributed this partly to the "lack of enforcement of prohibition against federally funded assistance to illegal aliens."
Critics, however, are raising red flags about the potential fallout. Immigrant advocates and some former HUD officials warn that the policy could discourage eligible mixed-status families—where some members are citizens or legal residents and others are not—from applying for much-needed housing aid. Cat Vielma, a former HUD employee, commented, "This is already the law—proof of citizenship is a requirement for any public housing or section 8 unit. Requiring a second, immediate accounting will not provide a massive correction or eviction. It will simply divert staff from serving American seniors, vets, etc." Privacy advocates have also expressed concern about the data-sharing agreement with DHS, fearing it could lead to broader surveillance or unintended consequences for lawful residents.
The new housing policy comes amid a broader context of rising housing insecurity and immigration tensions in the United States. Since fiscal year 2021, the Biden administration faced an estimated 10.8 million encounters with illegal migrants, according to Fox News. The influx has placed additional strain on already limited housing resources, with Democrat mayors in sanctuary cities like Denver and New York City requesting federal aid to address the challenges. By 2024, the U.S. was grappling with a housing shortage estimated between 4 million and 7 million units, while rents had surged by 20.9% since 2021, as reported by the Tampa Free Press.
Fueling the debate is data from the Center for Immigration Studies, which estimates that 59% of illegal immigrant households use one or more welfare programs, costing taxpayers about $42 billion. Turner and Noem have framed their crackdown as a necessary step to ensure that scarce housing resources go to "low-income families, elderly persons, veterans and disabled individuals"—the very groups the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program was designed to help, according to HUD’s website.
For many migrant families, including those awaiting adjustments to their immigration status, the new policy has caused deep anxiety. The fear of losing subsidized housing—or even being reported to immigration authorities—has left some families uncertain about their future. HUD, meanwhile, has stated it will use all enforcement mechanisms available, including audits and program evaluations, to ensure full compliance with the new mandate.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, in a press conference covered by Fox News, was blunt: "The entire government will work together to identify abuse and exploitation of public benefits and make sure those in this country illegally are not receiving federal benefits or other financial incentives to stay illegally. If you are an illegal immigrant, you should leave now. The gravy train is over."
Washington, D.C., has become a focal point for the new enforcement efforts, with the D.C. Housing Authority the first to receive HUD’s notice. Over 3,000 other PHAs nationwide have since been put on notice as well. The Trump administration has signaled that similar crackdowns could soon be coming to other major cities, especially those with large immigrant populations or so-called "sanctuary" policies.
As the 30-day deadline for compliance looms, the nation’s public housing authorities are scrambling to gather the required documentation and avoid potential funding cuts. The outcome of this unprecedented audit could reshape the landscape of public housing in America—and, for better or worse, will likely remain a flashpoint in the country’s ongoing debate over immigration, fairness, and the role of government in supporting its most vulnerable residents.
For now, families, advocates, and officials alike are watching closely, waiting to see how the new rules will play out on the ground—and what they will mean for the millions who depend on public housing for a roof over their heads.
