HUD Chief Puts Illegal Immigrants in Government Housing on Notice: Americans Are the 'Only Priority'

Philadelphia — The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner has issued a firm warning to illegal immigrants residing in government-funded housing, declaring that under the current administration, only American citizens will be prioritized for housing assistance. "Those that are here illegally, that are living in HUD-funded public housing, we're putting them on notice — this is not acceptable," Turner said during an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital. "We will not have it anymore."

Turner, speaking from Philadelphia while touring HUD projects and meeting local leaders, emphasized that only one in four Americans currently eligible for housing assistance is being served. With that stark statistic, he made it clear: "American citizens will benefit from hard-working American taxpayer dollars."

The HUD secretary has also teamed up with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to form an interagency initiative aimed at preventing federal housing funds from being accessed by illegal immigrants. This new collaboration was cemented with a Memorandum of Understanding earlier this week, which Turner said would end what he called "wasteful misappropriation" of housing resources. According to Turner, illegal immigrants had benefited disproportionately from public housing during the Biden administration, which he criticized for its "harmful" immigration policies.

On Wednesday, Turner announced the termination of Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgages for illegal immigrants. He stated the change is meant to ensure that mortgages backed by taxpayer funds go to Americans "who play by the rules and work hard." He reiterated his stance that public housing and related resources should be reserved solely for American citizens, especially given the nation's ongoing housing crisis.

Turner didn't hold back in his critique of the previous administration, attributing rising homelessness and the housing affordability crisis to what he described as "irresponsible border security and immigration policies." Highlighting the crisis, he pointed out that homelessness rose 18% in the past year, with more than 770,000 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2024. "That's unacceptable," he said, adding that even record HUD funding has failed to resolve the issue.

In a push for solutions, Turner argued that government alone cannot solve these problems. Instead, he called for increased collaboration with private sector players, faith-based organizations, and nonprofits. "Public-private partnerships are vital to eradicating homelessness," he stated. "The federal government is a great partner and facilitator, but it's the private sector and nonprofits that are doing the everyday work."

Turner also visited HUD-designated "Opportunity Zones" in Philadelphia, areas designed to attract investment and development through tax incentives. This initiative aims to revitalize economically distressed neighborhoods by creating jobs, affordable housing, and even essential services like grocery stores in urban food deserts.

With his background as the executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during the Trump administration, Turner seems determined to bring a mix of private and public resources to tackle America's housing issues. It's clear he’s doubling down on his mission to prioritize Americans in this effort — a stance that's bound to stir as much debate as it does support.