WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has proposed a rule that would require every resident of HUD-funded housing to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status, a change that would apply even to so-called “mixed status households.”
What This Means for You
- All residents in HUD-assisted housing would have to verify citizenship or eligible status.
- Mixed status households — families with both eligible and ineligible members — could lose assistance.
- The rule would take effect after a federal rulemaking process, including publication and review.
HUD Secretary Scott Turner announced the proposed rule this past week, saying it is intended to ensure that federally funded housing benefits are limited to U.S. citizens and certain eligible noncitizens.
HUD housing assistance refers to programs such as public housing and Housing Choice Vouchers that help low-income households afford rent. Under current rules, households with a mix of eligible and ineligible members may receive prorated assistance, meaning benefits are reduced but not entirely denied.
The proposed rule would require proof of eligibility for every resident and would prohibit HUD funding from benefiting individuals deemed ineligible.
“HUD’s proposed rule will guarantee that all residents in HUD-funded housing are eligible tenants,” Turner said.
Audit Findings and Eligibility Concerns
According to HUD, housing resources currently serve about one-quarter of eligible households in need.
The agency said a recent joint review with the Department of Homeland Security identified nearly 200,000 tenants with incomplete or unknown eligibility verification. HUD also estimated that approximately 24,000 ineligible individuals reside in about 20,000 mixed status households receiving assistance.
Mixed status households typically include a combination of U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and individuals without eligible status.
The department said the proposed rule is intended to close what it described as longstanding loopholes in eligibility enforcement.
Related Administrative Actions
HUD officials said the proposal aligns with President Trump’s executive order titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders.”
This year, according to the department, the secretary signed a memorandum of understanding with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem related to housing eligibility enforcement, directed a nationwide tenant audit of HUD-funded housing, revised Federal Housing Administration residency requirements for HUD-backed loans, and launched a hotline for reporting suspected criminal activity in HUD-funded housing.
The proposed rule must be published in the Federal Register and will be subject to the federal rulemaking process, which typically includes a public comment period before any final rule is adopted.
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