Residents of the Maravilla Housing Development in East Los Angeles are expressing heightened fear and concern following a letter from the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA).
This letter informed residents that, due to a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Homeland Security (DHS), there could be increased data sharing related to the citizenship status of public housing participants, including many Latino families.
Julia, a former resident of Maravilla who wished to keep her last name private, shared her anxiety over the notification received by her parents.
“But I’m used to it,” she told L.A. TACO in an interview.
“Growing up there, you gave up your privacy.”
The letter arrived shortly after a series of federal police raids targeting Latino individuals in Los Angeles, adding to the unsettling atmosphere in the community.
Julia, who no longer resides at Maravilla, expressed her worries for her family and the broader community.
“I’m just concerned for most of the community,” she said, highlighting the tension that has enveloped her former home.
The notice, dated June 10, emphasized that no new data-sharing policies between HUD and DHS were currently in effect, and the MOU did not specify how the two agencies would collaborate moving forward.
Despite reassurances, residents remain anxious about potential implications.
According to LACDA, the agency does not currently share information with DHS, nor are they mandated to share any additional data under the new MOU.
Additionally, the MOU does not alter existing laws or regulations, a point reiterated in the letter sent to Maravilla residents.
All public housing applicants must currently fill out a “Family Report” form that includes sensitive personal information, such as the names of household members and their citizenship status.
In an effort to address concerns, LACDA included contact information for four immigrant rights organizations and the New American Initiative in their letter, as well as providing Red Cards in both Spanish and English to their public housing management offices.
Julia noted the heightened vigilance among residents in response to the recent letter and increased police activity.
“I’ve seen cholos stepping up to protect the hood,” she said.
“They are rolling around on their bikes, telling people not to open their doors.”
This growing unease has been fueled by broader immigration policy changes under the Trump administration.
In February, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at ending “taxpayer subsidization of open borders,” citing a law that restricts undocumented immigrants from accessing most taxpayer-funded benefits.
The administration pledged to uphold the rule of law while prioritizing assistance for American citizens in need, particularly veterans and individuals with disabilities.
“As a result of President Trump’s policies,” the MOU signed in March between HUD and DHS states, “we commit to ending the wasteful misappropriation of taxpayer dollars to benefit illegal aliens instead of assisting American citizens, especially veterans, in need.”
Although the MOU was signed in late March, Julia and her parents were unaware of these developments until they received the LACDA letter in June.
This situation is compounded by recent advisories from Governor Gavin Newsom’s office warning undocumented Medicaid recipients.
The governor highlighted that the Trump administration had provided immigration officials with personal data, raising fears of potential targeting within immigrant communities.
“The only thing that scares me the most is that, since it is public housing, [management] can just let them,” Julia expressed.
She voiced concerns about the agency’s access to their homes, noting, “The main office has all the keys to all the units.
They sometimes don’t even ask to come in; they just let you know they will be there to work on something.
So, imagine if they were forced to cooperate, they could trick people into thinking they are maintenance workers and sneak in that way.”
LACDA officials, however, emphasized that they have no legal authority to prevent federal officers from entering their properties.
As tensions continue to rise among the residents of Maravilla, the community remains on high alert, grappling with the implications of the new MOU and ongoing immigration enforcement in their neighborhoods.
image source from：lataco
