Executive Summary
- HUD Secretary Scott Turner launched a hotline (1-800-347-3735) for reporting crime in federally funded housing.
- The initiative supports federal task forces in Memphis and D.C., which have combined for nearly 10,000 arrests recently.
- The move aligns with President Trump’s public safety directives and includes new citizenship verification requirements.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Marshals leadership endorsed the tool as vital for community safety.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner unveiled a nationwide hotline on Monday designed to facilitate the reporting of criminal activity within HUD-funded housing, a measure federal officials state will assist in removing gangs, drug networks, and human traffickers from public residences.
The newly established hotline creates a direct communication channel between residents and law enforcement agencies. According to HUD officials, the initiative is part of a broader cross-agency enforcement effort involving the Department of Justice and local authorities. The system will prioritize reports from Memphis and Washington, D.C., two cities where federal task forces have recently intensified operations to reduce violent crime.
Secretary Turner emphasized the role of residents in this public safety strategy. "No American who calls HUD housing home should feel that crime is an inevitable part of their living conditions," Turner said in a statement, characterizing residents as the "eyes and ears" of their communities. He noted that the initiative aligns with President Donald Trump’s directives regarding coordination on public safety.
The announcement was supported by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who identified the hotline as a key component of the administration’s "Make Memphis Safe Again" initiative. Additionally, U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces S. Serralta stated that tips from residents would assist marshals in removing individuals who threaten community safety from the streets.
Data released by federal authorities highlights the scope of ongoing operations. Officials reported that since August, the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force has arrested 6,677 fugitives, including 16 homicide suspects and 44 gang members. Similarly, the Memphis Safe Task Force has arrested 3,151 fugitives since October, seizing over 500 firearms. Tennessee Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty praised the hotline as a tool to support these crackdowns in Shelby County.
Beyond immediate law enforcement, HUD is implementing stricter residency policies. According to the department, Turner recently signed the "American Housing Programs for American Citizens" agreement with the Department of Homeland Security, which mandates citizenship verification for all residents in HUD-funded housing.
Operational Impact and Legal Oversight
The introduction of this hotline signifies a strategic shift in federal housing administration, moving beyond property management to active participation in federal law enforcement initiatives. By linking housing tenancy directly to criminal reporting and citizenship verification, the administration is leveraging administrative resources to support Department of Justice objectives in high-crime areas. This approach aims to accelerate the identification of suspects within the federal housing system, potentially expediting evictions and criminal prosecutions. It is important to note that all individuals arrested or accused of crimes, including those targeted by the mentioned task forces, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
