Senator Bill Hagerty from Tennessee has proposed new legislation aimed at preventing illegal immigrants from accessing federal housing benefits. This initiative seeks to block loopholes and deny sanctuary cities from receiving federal community development grants. “Illegal immigrants have been allowed to participate in federally subsidized housing programs,” Hagerty said. “They’re using American taxpayer dollars to get ahead of Americans in need.”
The proposed legislation, titled the End Housing Welfare for Illegal Aliens Act, is aligned with efforts by both the Trump administration and GOP members to limit benefits to illegal immigrants and sanctuary cities. The bill intends to prioritize benefits for American citizens.
The Trump administration has taken a look at this. Initial estimates indicate 24,000 illegal immigrants are using HUD programs, displacing Americans who deserve these programs.
The bill seeks to formalize efforts by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to close loopholes that allow illegal immigrants to benefit from taxpayer-funded housing when they share housing with eligible individuals.
HUD has stated that while its housing assistance is meant for U.S. citizens and certain eligible noncitizens, only a quarter of eligible households receive help. Recent audits revealed approximately 200,000 tenants with incomplete eligibility verification, with around 24,000 illegal immigrants benefiting in mixed-status households.
If passed, Hagerty’s bill would enforce HUD Secretary Scott Turner’s proposed rules across all administrations. Hagerty emphasized the need for this legislation to prevent potential fraudulent behavior.
The bill also aims to remove Biden-era incentives for sanctuary cities. Hagerty proposes denying these cities, which welcome undocumented immigrants, access to Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). These grants support affordable housing and local services.
According to Hagerty, sanctuary city policies were incentivized under the Biden administration due to undocumented immigrants being counted in population statistics used for congressional representation and electoral votes.
The Biden administration created incentives for illegal immigration. Sanctuary cities are placed in states losing population and voters, as they benefit from counting illegal aliens for congressional districts and electoral votes.
The proposed bill mandates public housing authorities to verify citizenship before granting housing assistance. It would legally require verification, changing the language from “may” to “shall” verify citizenship. Illegal immigrants would also be disqualified from Section 202 and Section 811 benefits, which provide affordable housing for low-income elderly and disabled individuals.
This legislative effort aligns with broader GOP initiatives to combat illegal immigration. Hagerty expressed confidence in the bill’s popularity among Americans.