Will They Ask for Papers to Rent a House? Anti-Immigration Plan Puts Undocumented Tenants’ Housing and Income at Risk

• Immigration authorities are asking landlords for tenants’ contracts, applications, and documents to locate those trying to rent housing in the US without legal status.
• This could lead to more evictions and fear among tenants, affecting access to safe housing.
• Attorneys foresee more cases of exploitation and a higher risk of homelessness.

Trump has toughened immigration measures by requesting rental contracts, applications, and documents from landlords.

The action aims to track down undocumented tenants as part of a mass deportation campaign.

In California, housing costs are already critical: immigrants without legal status face low-paying jobs, no benefits, and rents that absorb much of their income.

Threats and Evictions Under the Anti-Illegal Migration Plan

This plan against illegal migration has already led to serious incidents for those needing to rent housing in the United States:

• According to calmatters.org, in Los Angeles, a Latino family who sued for illegal eviction was warned that ICE could detain them before they reached trial.
• In Oakland, a landlord asked tenants if they were “legal” in order to evict them, using immigration status as a pressure tactic.

Cases like these show how immigration crackdowns not only aim to deport, but also weaken the right to housing.

Risk to Undocumented Immigrants: Housing and Income

The risk to immigrants is growing: families who lose their sole breadwinner can’t pay rent and face immediate eviction.

The fear of being reported discourages many from requesting repairs, demanding improvements, or going to court—even when the law protects them.

In a housing market as expensive as California’s, the combination of high costs and fear of ICE further limits options for the most vulnerable.

Expert Opinions on the Impact

“Fear of retaliation from landlords substantially undermines California’s tenant protection laws,” said David Hall, co-director of tenant rights at the Legal Center of La Raza.

Patrick McDonell, an attorney in Sonoma County, told calmatters.org that many clients with legitimate reasons to move or adjust their housing don’t do so for fear of being reported.

What Could Be Next for Undocumented Immigrants

Legal advocates anticipate more evictions, overcrowding, and an increase in families leaving the country voluntarily to avoid detention.

The challenge will be to enforce state housing laws without the fear of deportation leaving more families homeless.

Legal aid organizations continue to remind tenants of their rights, but federal immigration pressure complicates defense efforts.

Tips for Undocumented Tenants

• Know your rights: A landlord cannot evict you without a court order.
• Don’t give extra information: Only what’s legally required.
• Document everything: Contracts, payments, and messages.
• Seek legal help: Community organizations and Legal Aid.