The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has finalized a rule that requires applicants and tenants in covered HUD housing programs to verify their U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status. HUD Secretary Scott Turner framed it as a way to close a "decades-old loophole."
Turner discussed the rule Tuesday on Fox Business' "Kudlow" with host Larry Kudlow, saying it would close arrangements involving "mixed status roommates," in which one household member is eligible for assistance while others are not. During the interview, Turner accused the Biden administration of "turning a blind eye" to the law, adding, "And so we're enforcing this law."
In an X post Wednesday, Turner cited Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980, writing that people unable to verify their status are not eligible for taxpayer-funded HUD housing.
Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 is a federal law provision that restricts who can receive federally funded housing assistance based on citizenship and immigration status.
Mixed-Status Households and Waiting Lists
Turner said public housing authorities have long waiting lists, pointing to elderly people, homeless veterans and people escaping domestic violence as groups seeking assistance. "Public housing, American housing, is for people that are here legally," he said.
HUD Proposed Verification Rule in February
The final rule follows a proposal HUD announced in February that would require proof of U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status from every resident in HUD-funded housing, including mixed-status households. The proposal also sought to make prorated housing assistance temporary while the eligibility of household members was verified.
Treasury Targeted Tax Credits in August
The move comes amid broader administration efforts to restrict access to federal benefits based on immigration status. In August, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service proposed rules limiting the refundable portions of four federal tax credits: the adoption tax credit, child tax credit, American opportunity tax credit and earned income tax credit. The proposal applies to taxpayers who are not U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or qualified aliens under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
