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New rules blocking illegal aliens from gaining access to taxpayer-funded housing have been issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
On Thursday, HUD issued a rule to require proof of American citizenship or eligible immigration status for housing aid.
Under previous HUD regulations, mixed-status families—families with members who are eligible and ineligible for public housing—could receive assistance on a decreased basis, calculated according to the percentage of eligible members in the family.
It’s estimated that around 24,000 individuals in mixed-status families receive support through the regulations.
The new rule will limit decreased assistance to a temporary 30-day period, which is meant to provide a buffer for family members whose eligibility is pending, and may free up as much as $218 million in federal spending.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, the days of illegal aliens, ineligibles, and fraudsters gaming the system and riding the coattails of American taxpayers are over,” HUD Secretary Scott Turner said in a statement.
“We have zero tolerance for pushing aside hardworking U.S. citizens while enabling others to exploit decades-old loopholes.”
A similar proposal was made during President Trump’s first term and faced significant opposition from his opponents and advocates for low-income families and immigrants.
The proposal was withdrawn by the Biden administration.
