NEW: Trump Admin Launches Hotline To Report Unlawful Aliens, Criminals In Public Housing
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner announced during a press conference in Memphis on Monday that the federal government will be launching a tip-line that will allow residents to report illegal aliens or wanted criminals residing in public housing units.
“At HUD, we do believe that public housing should be safe. We believe that, and that’s our conviction. A safe community starts with safe housing. If the housing is safe, the community is safe, and we want to take good care of the most vulnerable people in our country,” Turner said while flanked by Attorney General Pam Bondi and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.
The secretary said the line will allow public housing residents to call the HUD Office of the Inspector General to report “criminals, illegal aliens, sex offenders, human traffickers, and those guilty of gang activity, drug distribution, and fraud.”
The hotline is expected to be rolled out to public housing residents in Memphis — where the Trump Administration has launched a surge in federal resources to crack down on crime and illegal immigration — before expanding.
Turner noted that the Memphis Housing Authority serves more than 9,700 households and receives more than $1.7M to assist federal rental assistance programs. “Here’s our message: Protect your home. Protect your family. If you see it, if you hear about it, report it,” Turner said.
The tip-line can be reached at 800-374-3735 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m, while people can also file an anonymous tip at any time through a department website.
According to HUD’s own analysis and NLIHC data, approximately 22,000 to 25,000 mixed-status households containing at least one undocumented immigrant are receiving federal housing assistance, including public housing units, Section 8 vouchers, and project-based rental aid. These households are disproportionately located in high-immigration states like New York, California, and Texas
Another analysis from the Center for Immigration Studies, which was conducted in 2023, estimated that 59.4 percent of households headed by undocumented immigrants use at least one major means-tested welfare program, including subsidized and public housing.
“We cannot allow criminals — whether gangs, traffickers, or illegal aliens — to terrorize our communities, especially in places meant to protect the vulnerable like public housing. This tip line is a tool to empower residents and hold perpetrators accountable,” Bondi said during Monday’s press conference.
The attorney general’s comments framed the tip line as part of a larger crackdown on sanctuary policies and immigration enforcement, echoing her prior actions like suing states for “tipping off” undocumented immigrants.