City Council adopts resolution opposing proposed HUD verification rule, warns of eviction risks for mixed‑status families

The Los Angeles City Council voted Feb. 20 to advance and adopt a resolution opposing a proposed U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rule that would require aggressive citizenship verification for household members, council members said.

Councilmember Hernandez, who introduced the measure under Rule 23, said the proposed regulation would, if implemented, effectively bar mixed‑status families from federal housing assistance and put an estimated 1,700 Los Angeles families at risk of eviction. Hernandez described the rule as a “direct threat to the stability of working class families,” citing national statistics that most affected households are people of color and Latina/o families.

Councilmembers from across the chamber voiced support for the resolution. One member said the rule would reduce housing-department income and increase homelessness and poverty locally — outcomes he called both bad public policy and an act of cruelty.

The council opened the roll and recorded 12 ayes on the findings and later tabulated votes to advance the item; public comment on the item was held prior to the final vote.

The resolution references the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 and opposes HUD’s proposed change to verification practices, calling for local protections for mixed‑status households and urging the city to defend vulnerable tenants.

Next steps: the council adopted the findings and moved the resolution forward; staff and sponsors said they will continue outreach and monitoring as the federal rulemaking proceeds.