The Trump administration has taken a decisive step to prevent illegal aliens from receiving taxpayer-funded housing benefits meant for low-income Americans.

President Donald Trump’s Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued a new rule aimed at blocking illegal immigrants from accessing federal housing programs such as Section 8.

On Thursday, HUD announced that it will require applicants and recipients of housing assistance to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status:

Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980, as amended (“Section 214”), prohibits the Secretary of HUD from making financial assistance available to persons other than United States citizens or certain categories of eligible noncitizens in HUD’s public and specified assisted housing programs. This proposed rule would revise HUD’s Section 214 implementing regulations to require the verification of U.S. citizenship or the eligible immigration status of all applicants and recipients of assistance under a covered program regardless of age. The proposed rule would also make prorated assistance a temporary condition pending verification of eligible status of all family members, where permitted by statute, as opposed to under HUD’s current regulations where prorated assistance could continue indefinitely. These amendments would bring HUD’s regulations into greater alignment with the wording and purpose of Section 214 and align with the current Administration’s priorities and regulatory reform efforts.

The rule is designed to close what officials describe as a long-standing loophole that allowed illegal aliens to receive public housing assistance.

HUD Secretary Scott Turner said the change will ensure that taxpayer-funded housing is reserved for eligible Americans and lawful residents. According to HUD data, approximately two percent of illegal alien–headed households currently receive housing assistance, along with about six percent of legal immigrant–headed households.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, the days of illegal aliens, ineligibles, and fraudsters gaming the system and riding the coattails of American taxpayers are over,” Turner told Politico. “We have zero tolerance for pushing aside hardworking U.S. citizens while enabling others to exploit decades-old loopholes.”

The move follows a directive issued last August ordering a nationwide review of public housing tenants to verify citizenship or eligible immigration status.

“The beginning of the end for illegals living in taxpayer-funded housing starts now,” Turner said at the time.