Until recently, young children played on sun-dappled lawns in a Gulf Coast town's public housing complex, watched by mothers awaiting school buses. Suddenly, furniture appeared curbside, and within weeks, the neighborhood emptied. The mass exodus in Port Isabel, Texas, was triggered by a bungled message from the local housing authority about a Trump administration proposal to end housing assistance to families with any member in the country illegally.
Panic and Flight in Port Isabel
The Port Isabel Housing Authority sent residents a letter on February 3 stating that the Trump administration required every household member to prove legal status within 30 days or face eviction. Three weeks later, a clarification noted no such proof was needed, but the damage was done. Half of the residents left within a month, dropping occupancy from 91% in January to 43% in May, far below the national average of 94%. The proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has not yet taken effect.
Rumors that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement might become involved fueled panic. A single mother from Mexico, raising two U.S. citizen teenagers, told the Associated Press she left after nearly a decade despite legal advice that she could stay. Her family now pays $500 more per month for an apartment, and her daughter, a top senior, works evenings to help with finances. Another mother of three moved into a one-bedroom trailer illegally parked between other homes, while a family of three sold beds to squeeze into a small trailer where the landlord refused to allow mail delivery.
Broader Implications of the Proposed Rule
Under current law, families with at least one legal resident can live in public housing if ineligible members pay full rent. HUD's proposed rule would disqualify any household with one ineligible resident, affecting an estimated 24,000 recipients in 20,000 households. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates 79,600 people could be forced out, disproportionately children and Latinos. HUD Secretary Scott Turner stated, “We have zero tolerance for pushing aside hardworking U.S. citizens while enabling others to exploit decades-old loopholes.”
The rule drew over 16,000 public comments, many critical. New York City Council noted 12% of city households have at least one member lacking legal status, affecting 240,000 children, and warned of increased displacement, homelessness, and poorer health and education outcomes. HUD is expected to publish a final version after considering comments, likely facing legal challenges.
