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Summary of article:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development announced new rules that will require all residents of public housing to prove their citizenship or legal status. Mixed-status families must provide proof of citizenship within 90 days. It is estimated that around 80 thousand people may be affected and the controversy has increased.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the new rules as finalized on the 12th. All residents and family members receiving federal housing assistance (public housing) must show theirAmerican citizen or legalmigrant proof of identity; The new rules will be effective from December 14. Existing tenants from “mixed status households” (family members with different immigration statuses) must submit proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status within 90 days, that is, before March 14 of next year.
The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a non-partisan research organization, reported that about 20,000 “mixed-status families” and about 80,000 people would be affected by the new rules or even lose their homes; About 37,000 of them are children, the majority of whom are US citizens.
CBS reported that since 1995, mixed-status families have been allowed to live together in Department of Housing subsidized housing, as long as one member of the family qualifies for federal subsidies. Under the new rules, these families may have to move out of public housing or be separated.
“It’s tearing families apart and sowing the seeds of division,” said Mary Claire Tran-Leung, director of the National Housing Law Project’s Eviction Initiative Project.
Chen Liang pointed out that the old rules allowed “mixed status families” to live together, which was beneficial to all parties; Since government subsidies are allocated on a proportional basis, mixed-status families often have to afford higher rates of rent. If these mixed-status families choose to leave public housing, the housing department may face funding shortfalls.
Housing Secretary Scott Turner said in a statement that a recent audit found that the eligibility status of nearly 200,000 tenants was incomplete or unverified; The Housing Department’s subsidized housing program currently covers only a quarter of the needy eligible families.
“President Trump has warned that the days of illegal immigrants and ineligible non-citizens abusing government subsidy programs are coming to an end,” Turner said. “Homeless veterans, the disabled, veterans and victims of domestic violence are still on waiting lists, while illegal immigrants and the unqualified are cheating our system. This is unacceptable. Taxpayers will no longer foot the bill.”
Families affected by the new rules are spread across the country, with New York, California and Texas hardest hit. A coalition of 22 state attorneys general opposing the rule reported that 7,000 mixed-status homes in California and 2,500 mixed-status homes in New York would be affected by the rule. The new rule “will impose an enormous economic burden on states and exacerbate the affordable housing crisis.”
The Housing Department tried to revise existing rules in 2019 during Trump’s first term, but withdrew the proposal in 2021. In February this year, the Housing Ministry proposed a revised draft, and after a three-month public comment period, the new rules were finally announced.
Summary FAQ
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The new rules require all residents receiving federal public housing subsidies and their family members to show proof of U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status, otherwise they could lose their residency eligibility.
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Those most affected are “mixed-status households”, which are households with family members of varying status. It is estimated that about 20,000 houses and about 80,000 people were affected, including about 37,000 children.
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Opponents argue that the new rules will force families to move or divide their homes and could increase pressure on affordable housing in the states. Several state attorneys general and housing groups have also warned that it would impose greater economic and social burdens.
