Vance Blames Illegal Immigration and Biden for Housing Crisis

Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday again blamed illegal immigrants, and President Biden’s policies, for the housing affordability crisis in the United States, arguing that millions of migrants are pushing Americans out of the housing market. He claimed that “30 million illegal immigrants” are taking homes that “ought, by right, to go to American citizens,” and said this influx is a main reason why rents and home prices feel out of reach for many families.

Vance’s remarks, which mirror themes from former President Trump’s campaign, came as new data and academic work show just how strained the nation’s housing system has become. The comments quickly drew pushback from housing and immigration researchers, who said the causes of the crisis run far deeper than immigration levels and that focusing on the border risks ignoring years of underbuilding and rising borrowing costs.

What Vance Cited and How Experts Responded

Vance pointed to a recent Federal Reserve study, specifically a May 2025 speech by Governor Michelle Bowman, as support for his claim. In that speech, Bowman noted that immigration can add to demand for housing, especially in places where there is already a shortage of cheaper homes. Vance has cited this as proof that immigration, and particularly unauthorized arrivals, are a direct driver of higher rents and prices.

However, Fed remarks were more cautious than Vance’s summary. Most specialists say his focus on illegal immigrants overstates their role. Analysis by VisaVerge.com emphasized that Bowman framed immigration as one of many forces shaping housing markets, not the main cause of the housing affordability crisis.

“Immigration can add to demand for housing, especially where cheaper homes are scarce,” but it is one factor among many, not the sole driver.

Long-term Causes Experts Highlight

Economists and housing researchers point to several deeper, long-term factors:

• Underbuilding after 2008: New home construction lagged badly after the financial crash, leaving a gap of millions of units well before recent demand surges.
• Rising interest rates since 2022: Higher borrowing costs have made mortgages more expensive and discouraged new construction.
• Loss of cheaper homes: Older buildings are demolished or converted into higher-rent units and short-term rentals, shrinking the stock of affordable housing.
• Pandemic-era supply-chain and cost pressures: Increased prices for lumber, labor, and materials raised construction costs.
• “Greedflation” claims: Some analysts say landlords and large investors raised rents faster than their costs rose.

Many experts argue immigration may add demand in certain cities, but it is only one part of a much larger puzzle.

Key National Statistics

These figures illustrate how severe the shortage and cost pressures have become, affecting both renters and potential buyers.

Human Impact and Local Conditions

On the ground, the crisis has produced acute consequences:

• Families doubled up in motel rooms.
• Older renters are priced out after landlords renovate buildings.
• Mixed-status households fear both rent hikes and immigration raids.

Local shelters and outreach workers report rising strain and more people seeking help, while U.S.-born tenants and recent arrivals often live side by side in overcrowded apartments, sharing the same rent hikes and lack of options.

Workforce and Policy Trade-offs

There is debate about potential consequences of Vance’s preferred policies, including mass deportations. Industry estimates say immigrants, both documented and undocumented, make up about one-third of the construction workforce nationwide. Removing large numbers of workers from building trades could:

1. Slow housing production further.
2. Make it harder to close the supply gap that fuels the housing affordability crisis.

Federal Policy Responses and Political Battles

The Biden administration has supported efforts to address supply and affordability:

• Building more homes on federal land.
• Increasing funding for affordable housing programs.
• Department of Housing and Urban Development initiatives aimed at adding units in tight markets and protecting renters at highest risk of eviction.

Information on current federal housing programs is available on the agency’s website, including guidance on affordable housing initiatives, at hud.gov.

However, these programs face political headwinds:

• Some Republicans in Congress are pushing for cuts to federal rental assistance.
• Housing groups warn that reducing vouchers or public housing support would put more pressure on low-income renters already squeezed by rising costs.

Advocates argue that blaming illegal immigrants distracts from policy choices made in Washington and state capitals about how much to invest in housing.

Political Framing and Public Reaction

Vance has doubled down on his message, repeating the claim that homes “by right” belong to citizens first. Supporters say he addresses voters who feel pushed aside in tight rental markets and crowded suburbs. Critics say this framing ignores the long history of immigrant labor in building American cities and towns—from laying railroad tracks to pouring concrete for subdivisions.

Local organizers warn that framing the housing affordability crisis mainly as an immigration problem risks pitting neighbors against each other, instead of building consensus for:

• Increased home building,
• Stronger renter protections,
• Preservation of lower-cost units.

Bottom Line and What Advocates Say

Housing advocates emphasize one clear conclusion from the Fed study and other research: without a substantial increase in home building, targeted renter assistance, and efforts to preserve lower-cost units, the housing affordability crisis is likely to worsen—regardless of changes in immigration levels.

The debate—whether to blame illegal immigrants or decades of housing policy choices—remains central to national discussions about where Americans live and who gets to call those homes their own. The policy debate shows no sign of cooling soon.