KAMALA Act Blocks Housing and Community Development Aid for Undocumented Immigrants Starting 2024

The KAMALA Act—or the "Keeping Aid for Municipalities And Localities Accountable Act"—changes who gets access to housing and community development grants. Starting in 2024, these grants can only be used to assist U.S. nationals and those lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Basically, if you're not a citizen or green card holder, this bill shuts you out of these programs.

No Aid for You

The core of the KAMALA Act is pretty straightforward: It restricts federal money. Section 2 of the bill specifically prohibits using housing and community development grants for anyone who isn't a U.S. national or lawfully admitted for permanent residence. This applies "notwithstanding any other provision of law"—meaning it overrides any other rules that might allow such aid.

For example, imagine a local community center that receives federal funding to help residents with housing issues. Under this new law, that center would be barred from assisting an undocumented worker facing eviction, even if that worker has been paying taxes and contributing to the community for years. They'd have to turn that person away, solely based on their immigration status.

Cutting Off Communities

Section 3 takes it a step further. It amends Section 103 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, stating that the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development can't give grants to any state, local government, or Indian tribe that provides housing or community development assistance to individuals who aren't U.S. nationals or lawfully admitted for permanent residence. This puts entire communities at risk of losing funding if they choose to support all their residents, regardless of immigration status.

Think about a city with a large immigrant population, where local organizations provide crucial support, including housing assistance, to undocumented families. Under the KAMALA Act, that city could lose vital federal funding simply for offering these services. This could lead to a significant reduction in resources for everyone, not just the targeted group.

Real-World Roadblocks

This bill isn't just about restricting aid; it's about creating new layers of bureaucracy and potential discrimination. Organizations that provide housing and community development assistance will now have to verify the immigration status of everyone they serve, adding to their administrative burden and potentially creating a chilling effect where people are afraid to seek help, even if they're eligible. It also raises concerns about equal access to basic resources. Is it fair to deny someone housing assistance simply because of their immigration status, especially when stable housing benefits the entire community?

While the bill's proponents might argue it ensures resources go to citizens and lawful residents first, the practical effect is likely to be increased hardship for vulnerable populations and strained resources for the organizations that serve them. The KAMALA Act essentially forces communities to choose between receiving federal funding and supporting all of their residents.