Trump Administration Targets Immigrants with New Housing Memorandum

NEW YORK — Advocates warn that a recent memorandum from the Trump administration, which aims to connect the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), could further jeopardize immigrant families residing in government-subsidized housing.

Announced on March 24, the memorandum establishes a “point of contact” between HUD and DHS for the sharing of information about undocumented immigrants. The goal, according to officials, is to identify individuals deemed ineligible for federal housing assistance and facilitate potential immigration enforcement actions, sparking concerns among local officials and advocates.

Local leaders expressed uncertainty about the impact of this new policy on New York City’s sanctuary laws, which restrict local agencies from sharing information with federal immigration authorities. “This memo represents yet another effort to target immigrant communities instead of addressing the real issues of housing,” said Anna Luft, project director at the New York Legal Assistance Group’s Public Housing Justice Project.

Under existing rules, only U.S. citizens and certain legally recognized non-citizens qualify for federal housing subsidies. Undocumented immigrants can reside in households receiving federal assistance as long as other household members qualify, with subsidies adjusted accordingly. This is known as prorated support.

However, the newly announced memorandum raises alarms for immigrant advocates. “This isn’t about program integrity—it’s about surveillance, fear, and falsely blaming immigrant families for the failures of a housing system,” stated the Alliance for Housing Justice. HUD Secretary Scott Turner was accused by the organization of misrepresenting how housing programs function.

A spokesperson for HUD reiterated that the MOU’s intent is to ensure that undocumented immigrants are not participating in public housing programs, although they did not provide further details on its operational aspects.

In New York City, three major public housing authorities — the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), and the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) — manage federal housing assistance programs.

NYCHA, the city’s largest public housing agency, stated that it is not a participant in the MOU, which further complicates the situation. “Our focus is on providing stable housing for low-income families, not surveillance,” said a NYCHA spokesperson.

With approximately 42,000 households receiving rental assistance from HPD, advocates highlighted that around 350 of these include mixed status families. The uncertainty surrounding the MOU has prompted advocates to advise families to consult immigration attorneys to understand their rights and potential risks.

HPD maintains that the existing regulations already provide for prorated rental assistance based on household members’ immigration status. According to HUD, a 2019 analysis indicated that about 25,000 households nationally had at least one ineligible member, with california, Texas, and New York accounting for the majority of mixed-status families.

While the MOU is anticipated to enhance cooperation between HUD and DHS, advocates remain apprehensive about genuine consequences. “What concerns us is whether this data-sharing mechanism will amplify fears among families already navigating a fragile housing system,” Luft added.

As this policy takes shape, there are significant unresolved questions regarding its implications. Community leaders call for a transparent approach from both state and local agencies as they strive to protect vulnerable populations in the community.