HUD Moves to Close “Mixed Status Households” Roommate Loophole

Illegals, Ineligibles, and Fraudsters: Pack Your Bags 👋 👜 ✈

News Release 26-015 from HUD, Feb 19, 2026

WASHINGTON – Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner announced a new proposed rule to require proof of U.S. citizenship or eligible status for every resident in HUD-funded housing, including “mixed status households.” With this proposed rule, HUD will ensure that taxpayer-funded housing benefits only go to American citizens and eligible individuals for the first time in history.

“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,” said Secretary Turner. “HUD’s proposed rule will guarantee that all residents in HUD-funded housing are eligible tenants. We have zero tolerance for pushing aside hardworking U.S. citizens while enabling others to exploit decades-old loopholes.”

HUD's proposed rule will close loopholes and prohibit HUD funding from benefitting illegal aliens and ineligible noncitizens who reside in taxpayer-funded housing. These individuals will no longer be able to take advantage of taxpayer-funded benefits intended for American citizens or people with eligible status.

HUD housing assistance is intended for U.S. citizens and certain eligible noncitizens, yet HUD resources serve only a quarter of eligible households in need. Meanwhile, a recent HUD and DHS audit of all assisted households identified nearly 200,000 tenants with incomplete or unknown eligibility verification. Furthermore, HUD estimates approximately 24,000 illegal aliens, ineligibles, and fraudsters in 20,000 “mixed status households” benefit from HUD assistance.

This action builds on HUD’s work to protect federal housing benefits for vulnerable American citizens and execute on President Trump’s Executive Order “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders.” This year, Secretary Turner:

• Signed the “American Housing Programs for American Citizens” MOU with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to end the wasteful misappropriation of taxpayer dollars to benefit illegal aliens.
• Audited all tenants across HUD-funded housing nationwide, giving Public Housing Authorities and owners 30 days to take corrective action.
• Guaranteed that HUD-backed loans only go to American citizens through revised FHA residency requirements.
• Demanded eligible immigration and citizenship status for all residents of HUD-funded housing.
• Launched the Report Crime Hotline so Americans can report illegal aliens and criminal activity in HUD-funded housing (1-800-347-3735).

CBP HOME: Assistance to Voluntary Self-Deport

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AP: HUD's new rule proposal may limit public housing to citizens only | AP News

NYT: HUD Revives First-Term Trump Proposal to Eject Undocumented Immigrants from Public Housing - The New York Times