Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner stated that the Trump administration is actively pursuing policies aimed at reducing housing costs, which he attributes to surges caused by what he described as Joe Biden's open border policies [1]. Turner emphasized that the administration's strategy includes cracking down on illegal immigration, rolling back regulations, expanding mortgage credit, and removing barriers to new construction as central measures to improve housing affordability—a key issue in the upcoming midterm elections [1].
Turner referenced a Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas working paper, which found that every 1% increase in unauthorized immigrant workers was associated with a roughly 2.2% increase in home prices and a 1.4% increase in rents, supporting the administration's position that increased housing demand from unauthorized immigration has driven up costs for American citizens [1]. He further highlighted two executive orders signed by President Trump, which are designed to remove regulatory barriers to affordable housing construction, expand access to mortgage credit, and increase housing supply [1].
The HUD secretary asserted that the administration is already taking steps to make housing more affordable, countering perceptions that affordability is not a priority. Turner also stated that the administration is rolling back regulations and 'bureaucratic red tape' implemented under the Biden administration to lower construction costs and encourage more homebuilding [1]. He described these efforts as essential to making homeownership more attainable for American families [1].
CONCLUSION
The Trump administration is positioning its immigration and regulatory policies as central to addressing the housing affordability crisis, citing both executive actions and supporting research. While the administration claims these measures are already underway, the market impact is medium as the effectiveness and timing of these policies remain to be seen.