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Proof of citizenship will be required for recipients of Section 8 housing, under new plans from the Trump administration.
On Friday, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner announced that public housing authorities will have 30 days to complete an audit verifying whether tenants have citizenship or “eligible immigration status.”
Turner went on to warn that an authority that fails to comply will face a prove into its 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, “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.”
“American citizens will be prioritized,” he told Fox News.
The first notice was sent to the DC Housing Authority, but more than 3,000 authorities nationwide will be subject to the order.
Turner and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem signed a memorandum of understanding in March to increase scrutiny of public housing.
“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.”
