Velázquez Leads NYC Members in Opposing HUD Plan to Target Immigrants

Washington, D.C.­­ – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) has led Members of the New York City Congressional delegation in calling on the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to withdraw a proposed rule that would make it harder for families with immigrant members to live in public housing or utilize federal housing assistance benefits.  In a letter opposing the proposed rule, which was made public Friday morning, the lawmakers suggest that the agency’s proposal could result in thousands of families being made homeless or, in some cases, cause some families of mixed immigration status to separate.

In a letter to HUD Secretary Carson, Velázquez and several Members of the delegation wrote, “We believe the proposed rule would fail to advance any meaningful public policy benefit, but it would needlessly inflict hardship on thousands of working families, seniors and others. We ask the agency to withdraw this rule. Under no circumstances, should it be adopted in its current form.”

“The Trump Administration’s policy of separating families at the border has been soundly rejected by the American people as heartless, cruel and inhumane,” said Velázquez who spearheaded the letter. “Now, it appears Trump’s HUD would separate immigrant families who use affordable housing benefits or even cause thousands of them to become homeless. Not only is this sickeningly cruel, but for an Administration that regularly proposes zeroing out funding for public housing in its annual budget, it is also strikingly hypocritical to suggest we don’t have adequate resources for all those who rely on housing aid.  Rather than trying to hurt our immigrant neighbors, HUD should work with Congress to strengthen these programs.”

The entire text of the letter is below and a .pdf with all signatories is online here.