The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) is disappointed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) decision to officially deny Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, provided in a letter to U.S. Representative Pete Aguilar (CA-31) on June 11, 2019. In the wake of this decision, NAHREP calls on Congress to swiftly pass the Homeownership for Dreamers Act.
In the months leading up to HUD’s official response, NAHREP received alerts that HUD was unofficially advising lenders that DACA recipients were ineligible for FHA loans. During this time, HUD maintained the position that their policies surrounding DACA had not changed. However, HUD’s recent letter clearly states that DREAMers are ineligible for FHA-backed loans, in contrast to previous statements. Today, NAHREP urges the passing of H.R. 3154 Homeownership for Dreamers Act along with its companion bill in the Senate in order to reverse HUD’s decision with bipartisan support.
NAHREP would like to recognize key members of Congress for their leadership on this important issue: U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-51) and U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (NJ) for introducing the Homeownership for Dreamers Act, along with Representative Pete Aguilar (CA-31) for his continued oversight on this issue. We urge Congressional leaders to join the twenty-three co-sponsors of H.R. 3154, and U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto (NV) and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (NJ), the Senate companion bill’s first co-sponsors.
Currently, there are approximately 700,000 individuals registered under DACA and an estimated 1.3 million who qualify for the program. These individuals have lived and worked in this country since they were children, contributing to the U.S. economy and deeply embedded into the social fabric of our society. While NAHREP ultimately supports the full passage of The American Dream and Promise Act of 2019, it is critical that FHA does not get ahead of the courts in deciding immigration law. If all other loan eligibility requirements are satisfied, taxpaying DACA recipients must not be denied solely on the basis of their DACA status.
Sincerely,
David Acosta
2019 President
NAHREP
TAKE ACTION NOW
Have you or one of your clients been affected by HUD’s decision? Please tell us your story so NAHREP can share your voice with lawmakers on this important issue.