A new legislative proposal spearheaded by Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee aims to prevent undocumented immigrants from accessing federally subsidized housing programs, a move designed to close loopholes and cut off federal community development grants to so-called sanctuary cities. The legislation, titled the “End Housing Welfare for Illegal Aliens Act,” represents a significant push by Republican lawmakers to curb the ability of undocumented individuals and cities that do not fully cooperate with federal immigration enforcement to receive benefits, which they argue often comes at the expense of American citizens.
Closing Loopholes in Federal Housing Programs
Senator Hagerty expressed strong opposition to the current situation, stating, “They have been allowed to participate in federally subsidized housing programs. They’re using American taxpayer dollars to jump to the front of the line while putting Americans at the back of the lines. It’s got to stop.” He highlighted that preliminary estimates suggest approximately 24,000 undocumented individuals are currently utilizing programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This, he contends, leads to Americans who are genuinely deserving of these housing resources being sidelined.
The proposed bill seeks to codify and strengthen efforts by HUD to close existing loopholes. Currently, some rules allow undocumented immigrants to receive federal housing benefits if they share a residence with an individual who is legally eligible for such assistance. This practice has drawn criticism, particularly as HUD itself has noted that housing assistance programs serve only about a quarter of eligible households in need. A recent audit by HUD and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified nearly 200,000 tenants with questionable or unverified eligibility status. The audit further estimated that around 24,000 undocumented immigrants, ineligible individuals, and those committing fraud were benefiting from HUD assistance within approximately 20,000 “mixed-status households.”
Hagerty’s legislation is intended to make a proposed rule by HUD Secretary Scott Turner a permanent fixture, ensuring its enforcement across different presidential administrations. “This current administration is going to do everything it can, I am certain, to stop this type of fraudulent behavior,” Hagerty remarked. “But what I want to do is preclude this from happening if there were ever to be another Democrat administration.”
Impact on Sanctuary Cities and Community Development
Beyond direct housing benefits, Senator Hagerty’s bill includes provisions to deny Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to sanctuary cities. These federal grants are crucial for funding local initiatives such as affordable housing projects, infrastructure improvements, and essential public services. Hagerty argues that by adopting sanctuary city policies, these municipalities create incentives for illegal immigration, particularly in states experiencing population decline.
He elaborated on this point, suggesting a political motive behind the allocation of congressional representation and electoral votes. “You think about where they situated sanctuary cities — in blue states, where they’re losing population, where they’re losing voters,” Hagerty stated. “Why? Because you can count these illegal aliens for the purpose of allocating congressional districts. You can count them for the purpose of locating electoral votes. That is the motive behind the crime.”
Stricter Verification and Eligibility Requirements
A core component of the proposed legislation mandates that public housing authorities must verify the citizenship status of applicants before granting housing assistance. This would shift the current legal framework from a permissive “may” verify to a mandatory “shall” verify, imposing a legal obligation on agencies. Furthermore, the bill explicitly aims to bar undocumented immigrants from eligibility for Section 202 and Section 811 programs. These specific programs are designed to provide affordable housing for low-income elderly individuals and people with disabilities.
Hagerty voiced concerns that undocumented immigrants are displacing deserving American citizens, including disabled and elderly individuals, from these vital housing resources. “Illegal aliens are pushing out and crowding out people that are disabled, American taxpayers that are disabled, elderly that are disabled,” he asserted.
Broader Context and Public Support
Senator Hagerty’s legislative efforts are part of a wider strategy by Republicans and the previous Trump administration to tighten controls on illegal immigration nationwide. He expressed confidence in the public’s reception to such measures, noting, “The goal is to pass the legislation. And I think if you polled Americans, you’d find this is extraordinarily popular.” The push reflects a broader debate about immigration policy, resource allocation, and the definition of eligibility for federal programs funded by taxpayers.
