Congresswoman Luz Rivas Introduces Bill to Protect Immigrant Families in Public Housing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Luz Rivas (CA-29) introduced H.R. 7374, the Housing Without Fear Act, to nullify the harmful Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) which allows for sharing noncitizens’ data between the two agencies. 

“HUD’s pressure campaign on public housing authorities across the country will worsen the housing crisis for our most vulnerable and leave immigrant families homeless,” said Congresswoman Rivas. “My Housing Without Fear Act protects immigrant families – like mine in the San Fernando Valley – from eviction and blocks DHS and HUD from working together to weaponize immigrants’ personal data. Our federal agencies should work together to serve everyone, not carry out the Trump Administration’s racist anti-immigrant agenda.”

Background:

On March 24, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate data sharing with a focus on identifying noncitizens using federal housing programs. The MOU creates clear lines of communication between the two agencies to work to identify noncitizens who the departments deem ineligible for federal housing assistance. The agencies will use this data to take actions against these individuals, including referral for immigration enforcement actions, and the housing authorities where the individuals live. 

On January 23, 2026, HUD announced that all Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) must re-verify tenant eligibility requirements. PHAs have 30 days from January 23 to comply or risk being sanctioned by the Trump Administration. 

Congresswoman Rivas is a co-sponsor on bills preventing data sharing between federal agencies, including the Home Together Act and the LINE Act. 

Bill text of the Housing Without Fear Act can be found here.

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