HUD joins forces with DHS to ensure federal housing resources go to US citizens, not illegal immigrants

The two secretaries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday cementing the partnership, which will serve to end what they call "wasteful misappropriation" of taxpayer-funded public housing resources going to illegal immigrants rather than U.S. citizens. The new initiative will facilitate data sharing between the two agencies via newly established lines of communication, according to a press release about the effort, which added that U.S. veterans stood to benefit from the move.

Tens of millions of dollars - at least - went to housing for migrants, including for all-expense-paid stays at hotels for some, during the Biden administration. Some states, such as Pennsylvania and Arizona, passed measures during the Biden administration aimed at ensuring illegal immigrants do not take public housing resources from Americans who need them. 

"The Biden Administration prioritized illegal aliens over our own citizens, including by giving illegal aliens taxpayer-funding housing at the expense of Americans. Not anymore," Noem said in a statement Monday. "The entire government will work together to identify abuse and exploitation of public benefits and make sure those in this country illegally are not receiving federal benefits or other financial incentives to stay illegally. If you are an illegal immigrant, you should leave now. The gravy train is over."

As part of the new initiative, HUD will provide a full-time staff member to assist with operations at the federal government's Incident Command Center, which facilitates information sharing between agencies during national crises.