42 U.S.C. § 1437y
Provision of information to law enforcement and other agencies (THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE (42 U.S.C.))
Operative Text
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall, at least 4 times annually and upon request of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (hereafter in this section referred to as the “Service”), furnish the Service with the name and address of, and other identifying information on, any individual who the Secretary knows is not lawfully present in the United States, and shall ensure that each contract for assistance entered into under section 1437d or 1437f of this title with a public housing agency provides that the public housing agency shall furnish such information at such times with respect to any individual who the public housing agency knows is not lawfully present in the United States.
Under 42 U.S.C. § 1437y, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is required to share identifying information—such as names and addresses—about individuals it knows to be unlawfully present in the United States with immigration enforcement authorities at least four times per year and whenever requested. This obligation also flows down to public housing agencies (PHAs) through their assistance contracts under the relevant federal housing statutes. The provision overrides other laws that might otherwise restrict such information sharing.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Public housing agencies operating under assistance contracts governed by 42 U.S.C. § 1437y are generally expected to have procedures in place to identify and report individuals known to be unlawfully present in the United States to immigration authorities on the schedule the statute requires. Compliant operators typically ensure that their contracts with HUD reflect this reporting obligation and that staff responsible for tenant eligibility determinations are aware of the requirement. Maintaining accurate records of tenant immigration status determinations is a standard part of administering federally assisted housing under this framework.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 42 U.S.C. § 1437y, individuals living in federally assisted housing should be aware that both HUD and their public housing agency may be required to share certain identifying information with immigration authorities if the agency has knowledge that a resident is not lawfully present in the United States. Tenants who have questions about how this provision may interact with their housing situation can reach out to a local tenant-rights organization or a legal aid office familiar with federal housing and immigration law. Understanding the eligibility rules for federally assisted housing programs is an important step for any household that includes members with varying immigration statuses.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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