DHS and HUD Join Forces to Stop Taxpayer Dollars From Being Used to House Illegal Immigrants

HUD and DHS have launched a joint initiative to stop federal housing benefits from going to illegal immigrants, aiming to prioritize U.S. citizens and veterans instead. The move follows growing criticism that public assistance has been misused under prior policies.

Key Facts:

HUD Secretary Scott Turner and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday to block illegal immigrants from receiving federal housing aid.
The initiative includes new data-sharing between HUD and DHS and a permanent HUD staffer at the federal Incident Command Center.
About 9 million people currently live in subsidized housing, according to HUD.
The Center for Immigration Studies reports that 59% of noncitizen households use public benefits, costing up to $42 billion annually.
Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act will now be strictly enforced, barring aid to illegal immigrants.

The Rest of The Story:

HUD and DHS say the new agreement is designed to cut down on what they call the “wasteful misappropriation” of taxpayer housing funds.

They’ve committed to improving communication and enforcement mechanisms so that only eligible U.S. citizens, especially veterans, benefit from housing programs.

Turner emphasized that housing resources must go to Americans first, calling the agreement a “technology and personnel” upgrade to help enforce federal law.

Noem issued a strong statement saying the Biden administration had favored illegal immigrants over citizens, but “the gravy train is over.”

During the Biden administration, some illegal immigrants received taxpayer-funded hotel stays, drawing backlash in several states, including Arizona and Pennsylvania.

Under the Trump administration, an executive order had already called for ending federal benefits for illegal immigrants.

Now, with this new HUD-DHS initiative, Turner also directed housing programs to comply with long-standing federal law — Section 214 — which bars assistance to illegal immigrants.

HUD Secretary and DHS Secretary just signed the “American Housing Programs for American Citizens” Memorandum which cracks down on our tax dollars and housing programs being used by illegals. pic.twitter.com/bC1evYb4As

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 24, 2025

Commentary:

This is exactly the kind of clear, focused policy Americans have been demanding for years.

While previous administrations turned a blind eye to taxpayer abuse, this agreement aims to restore accountability and prioritize Americans — especially those who’ve served the country.

Why should hardworking citizens and veterans wait for housing while illegal immigrants, who shouldn’t be in the country to begin with, receive federal aid?

The Biden administration’s policies blurred the lines between citizen and noncitizen, but this partnership between HUD and DHS is a strong step in the right direction.

It sends a message: if you break the law to enter the U.S., don’t expect a government-funded lifestyle.

Enforcing Section 214 is not just smart policy — it’s existing law that should’ve been enforced all along.

Critics may complain about the optics, but the facts are simple: billions in taxpayer dollars have been spent supporting noncitizens. That needs to stop.

The Bottom Line:

The new HUD-DHS agreement is a decisive move to protect taxpayer resources and uphold federal law.

With data-sharing, enforcement, and program compliance now front and center, this marks a major shift toward accountability in public housing.

Illegal immigrants should not be prioritized over veterans and law-abiding Americans.

This policy helps right that wrong.