Trump administration proposes new HUD rule requiring citizenship verification for public housing, ending “do not contend” provision from Clinton era.
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AproposedDepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopmentrulewouldcrackdownonillegalimmigrantsorunqualifiedpeoplelivinginpublichousing,closingaloopholeestablishedamidmajordepartmentalreformsunderPresidentBillClintonin1996.
CurrentHUDrulesallow“mixed-status”householdstousepublichousingunderwhatiscalledthe“donotcontend”provision,inwhichapersonlivingamongapublichousingfamilycandeclarethey“donotcontend”theirHUDeligibilityundertheirimmigrationstatus,andthefamilyinsteadreceivesproratedhousingassistance.
TheHUD-ineligiblefamilymemberormembersmayremaininpublichousingsolongasthefamilyacceptstheirdiminishedsubsidies,accordingtoreports.
ThenewHUDrule,proposedthisweekunderSecretaryScottTurner,wouldeliminatetheoptionforresidentstosaythey“donotcontend”andinsteadrequireeverymembertoverifycitizenshiporproveeligiblenon
