Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner recently spoke with Fox Digital in Philadelphia, emphasizing the Trump administration’s commitment to prioritizing American citizens in the wake of the ongoing immigration crisis. Turner highlighted that the administration is focused on ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used to benefit citizens rather than those living in the country illegally.
During the interview, Turner pointed out that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is currently serving only a fraction of the Americans who need assistance. He expressed a strong desire to change this, stating, "At HUD, we only serve one out of four Americans that we should be serving, and that has to come to an end." He made it clear that the administration’s priority is to ensure that American citizens receive the support they need.
In a related development, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced that states allowing illegal immigrants to access unemployment benefits could face a loss of federal funding. In a letter to governors, she urged compliance with President Trump’s directives aimed at preventing taxpayer dollars from supporting individuals who are in the U.S. illegally. Chavez-DeRemer stressed that unemployment benefits are intended for those who are legally authorized to work in the country.
She encouraged states to utilize the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program to verify the immigration status of applicants for benefits. This move aligns with the administration’s broader efforts to restrict access to taxpayer-funded programs for illegal immigrants.
Additionally, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking steps to ensure that illegal immigrants do not receive food assistance benefits, known as SNAP. Rollins remarked that allowing those who entered the U.S. illegally to access these benefits is unacceptable.
As the Trump administration continues to tighten regulations surrounding immigration and benefits, Turner and other officials are making it clear that their focus remains on supporting American citizens first. The administration’s actions reflect a broader strategy to address the immigration crisis and its impact on public resources.