Alert for Latino families in the U.S.: Trump restricts federal housing assistance, immigration status will be reviewed

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published the final rule on Thursday that will restrict access to federal housing assistance for families with undocumented members, as part of President Donald Trump's administration's crusade to prevent foreigners without legal status from receiving public benefits.

The measure revises Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980, which restricts access to federally funded housing assistance based on citizenship and immigration status.

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Specifically, the new rule requires verification of U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status for all applicants and beneficiaries of assistance under programs subject to these regulations, regardless of age.

Furthermore, the new measure affects the assistance currently offered to members who do meet the requirements to receive prorated aid to cover their housing expenses.

The new HUD measure would change this provision by turning prorated assistance into a temporary benefit, which could force families to lose their housing support or face the possibility of separating to keep it.

According to estimates from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, cited by the digital media outlet The Intercept, some 80,000 people could be affected, including nearly 37,000 children.

"President Trump warned that the days of illegal aliens and non-citizens who are not entitled to it taking advantage of government-funded social assistance programs would be over," stated HUD Secretary Scott Turner in an interview with Fox last Tuesday regarding the rule that will go into effect next month.

The official stated that nearly 200,000 tenants receiving federal aid had incomplete or unknown eligibility verification.

Currently, HUD-funded housing only covers a quarter of the eligible households in need of assistance in the United States.