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EXCLUSIVE: Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner said the Trump administration is working to counter increases in housing costs that he said were a result of Joe Biden's open border policies.
Speaking exclusively to Fox News Digital from the Great American State Fair on Thursday, Turner insisted that President Donald Trump's team is pursuing policies to improve affordability, a key medium-term issue, and reduce increases in home prices and rental costs that correlated with the influx of illegal immigration under the previous administration.
Republicans have argued that their agenda will reduce home prices and rents by reducing regulations, increasing housing supply and combating illegal immigration.
BIDEN'S ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION INCREASE CAUSED HIGH RENT AND HOUSING PRICES, FED STUDY FINDS
A house for sale shows how housing affordability remains a challenge for many potential buyers. (Zak Bennett/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
“When we first came in with President Trump, we had open borders. We had tens of millions of illegals in our country,” Turner said, arguing that increased demand for housing due to unauthorized immigration raised costs for American citizens.
A recent working paper from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reached a similar conclusion, estimating that every 1% increase in unauthorized immigrant workers was associated with about a 2.2% increase in housing prices and a 1.4% increase in rents.
Turner said that beyond rolling back regulations, expanding mortgage credit and removing barriers to new construction, reducing illegal immigration is key to helping alleviate housing demand.
SURPRISING HIDDEN COST THAT SILENTLY ADDS NEARLY $132K TO NEW HOME PRICES REVEALED
He also said the Trump administration's immigration crackdown is a key part of the president's broader effort to reduce costs for American families amid an ongoing affordability crisis.
“Here in America, we prioritize Americans and only Americans. American homes are for Americans,” Turner said.
When asked when Americans can expect to see lower housing costs, Turner argued that the administration is already taking steps to make housing more affordable.
“I think there's a misperception that this is not a priority. It's a top priority,” Turner said.
A PROBLEM HIDDEN IN SIGHT PREVENTS AMERICANS FROM BUYING HOMES
As evidence, Turner pointed to two executive orders that Trump signed that together work to eliminate regulatory barriers to the construction of affordable housing, expand access to mortgage credit and increase the supply of housing.
Housing costs have remained high in many parts of the country, making affordability a key concern for buyers and renters. (Angus Mordant/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
The HUD secretary said the administration is also rolling back regulations and “red tape” implemented under the Biden administration to reduce construction costs and spur more housing construction.
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“That's what we're doing now, we're relaxing the regulatory environment, lowering costs, increasing supply so builders can build and homeowners can buy,” he said, describing those efforts as key to making homeownership more affordable for American families.
