The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Thursday proposed a rule that would limit public housing mostly to private citizens, which it fears could lead to the eviction of tens of thousands of people.
The rule, published in the Federal Register, calls for limiting funding for those living in public housing and other HUD-related housing for eligible citizens and non-citizens. The rule would require every resident of HUD-financed housing to show proof of citizenship or qualifying status, including those 62 and older who previously had to show proof of age only.
The measure would effectively prevent mixed-status families – where some family members are eligible for assistance – from housing and is part of the government’s plan. Immigration campaign. A similar rule was proposed but never finalized during Trump’s first administration and was mentioned as a policy priority in the conservative outline Project 2025,
“Under President Trump’s leadership, the days of illegal, ineligible aliens and fraudsters gaming the system and fleecing American taxpayers are over,” HUD Secretary Scott Turner said in a statement. “HUD’s proposed rule will ensure that all residents of HUD-financed housing are eligible renters. We have zero tolerance for putting aside hardworking American citizens while enabling others to exploit legacy loopholes.”
The proposed rule will become official when it is published in the Federal Register on Friday. HUD did not answer how long it might be before the rule goes into effect.
Housing advocates were quick to criticize the move.
“Our country can ensure that every one of us, no matter where we come from or what language we speak, has a safe home,” Shamus Roller, executive director of the National Housing Law Project, said in a statement. “Instead, Trump is trying to evict immigrant families, both citizen and non-citizen, from HUD housing.
In December, the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimated that as many as 20,000 families or as many as 80,000 people could lose aid due to changes in eligibility that would eliminate the rule that has been in place for decades.
The impact of the rule could affect many people who struggle to provide proper documentation. About 3.8 million adults with citizenship lack any form of documentation proving their nationality, and another 17.5 million cannot easily obtain documents.
“Everyone deserves an affordable home, including our immigrant neighbors, friends and coworkers,” said Sonia Acosta, a senior policy analyst at the center. “This rule will force 20,000 families with mixed immigration statuses to make an agonizing choice between losing the assistance that helps them pay rent every month or separating their families. People without documented immigration status have never been eligible for rental assistance.”