HUD to require proof of citizenship for housing benefits through Section 8

The Trump administration is directing public housing authorities across the United States to review their rolls for illegal immigrants, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner announced Friday. Turner said each authority has 30 days to complete an audit verifying whether tenants have citizenship or “eligible immigration status.” He warned that any program failing to comply could face scrutiny of its own federal funding.

“No longer will illegal aliens be able to leave citizenship boxes blank or take advantage of HUD-funded housing, riding the coattails of hardworking American citizens,” Turner wrote. He added that HUD resources are stretched thin, noting, “Currently, HUD only serves one out of four eligible families due, in part, to the lack of enforcement of prohibition against federally funded assistance to illegal aliens.”

The first notice was issued to the DC Housing Authority, but Turner said more than 3,000 housing authorities nationwide are subject to the order. “American citizens will be prioritized,” he told Fox News.

The move drew immediate reaction. “Anyone in this country illegally should be deported, not given publicly funded housing!” Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) posted to X.

Others criticized the plan as burdensome. “This is already the law — proof of citizenship is a requirement for any public housing or section 8 unit. Requiring a second, immediate accounting will not provide a massive correction or eviction. It will simply divert staff from serving American seniors, vets etc.,” wrote former HUD employee Cat Vielma.

The order follows a memorandum of understanding signed in March by Turner and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to tighten scrutiny of public housing in response to rising illegal immigration.

“The entire government will work together to identify abuse and exploitation of public benefits and make sure those in this country illegally are not receiving federal benefits or other financial incentives to stay illegally,” Noem said. “If you are an illegal immigrant, you should leave now. The gravy train is over.”

The push comes as Washington, DC, has become a focal point of the Trump enforcement agenda, with National Guard troops and federal officers deployed in recent weeks to combat crime. Other Democrat-led cities, including Chicago, could soon face similar measures tied to immigration enforcement.