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Three Department of Housing and Urban Development offices located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City have closed their doors temporarily due to increasing violence linked to anti-ICE protests. This troubling development was confirmed by HUD officials to Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
This latest wave of office closures follows recent claims from Democratic representatives, including California’s Maxine Waters and Michigan’s Rashida Tlaib, suggesting that HUD field offices were at risk of permanent closure as a result of government efficiency measures. Waters articulated concerns that such closures would adversely impact families and communities nationwide that depend on HUD for essential housing assistance and community development initiatives.
HUD Secretary Scott Turner was quick to dismiss these claims as misinformation, branding them as fake news during an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital. He criticized Democratic leaders for fostering an environment of unrest that has jeopardized the safety of HUD employees, resulting in these temporary office closures.
Turner stated, “The left and the legacy media are spreading false narratives about HUD’s operational status. The recent riots prompted by these falsehoods have forced three HUD field offices to shut down temporarily.”
As the unrest escalated over the weekend, violent clashes erupted in Los Angeles following federal law enforcement actions focused on immigration enforcement. These actions stemmed from President Trump’s commitment to deport undocumented immigrants that have crossed the border during the Biden era.
In addition to the Los Angeles disturbances, significant anti-ICE protests took place in New York City and San Francisco, with hundreds arrested amid the turmoil. The graphic aftermath of the violent gatherings was captured in images depicting extensive graffiti on a federal building in downtown Los Angeles, where one of the HUD offices is located.
Previously, news reports had indicated potential plans by the Trump administration to close multiple HUD offices, a move regarded by some as a potential violation of federal law that requires the agency to maintain a presence in every state. Turner asserted via social media that HUD has not shut down any field offices amid the current crisis.
In March, Waters led a group of Democratic lawmakers and a coalition of activists to HUD headquarters, demanding answers about the alleged downsizing of federal housing programs. The confrontation with agency staff turned contentious, with Waters insisting on communicating directly with Turner.
Complementing Waters’ efforts, Tlaib attempted to join the delegation but was stopped at the entrance, leading to heated exchanges with HUD personnel. This incident ended with the group exiting without having achieved their goal of meeting Turner.
Further complicating the situation, Waters reached out to the Government Accountability Office and HUD’s acting inspector general in April, seeking an investigation into accusations of planned closures of local field offices. She emphasized concern over the potential impacts on communities reliant on HUD for housing aid and civil rights enforcement.
As the protests raged on, Sen. Cory Booker labeled the Los Angeles riots as “peaceful” while publicly criticizing Trump for deploying the National Guard in response to the rising violence.
Waters highlighted the crucial role that employees across the 54 HUD field offices play in delivering hands-on technical assistance, expediting local projects, and ensuring compliance with federal housing statutes. Her worry was that closing any offices would severely disrupt housing programs, hinder development, and threaten the jobs of the dedicated staff.
Fox News Digital attempted to reach out to the offices of Waters and Tlaib to inquire about their current positions on HUD’s operational status, particularly in light of the violence. No immediate responses were provided.
The violence in Los Angeles ignited on Friday night when federal officials initiated immigration raids in the area. Local leaders, including Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom, swiftly condemned these raids, voicing support for undocumented immigrants.
However, the protests soon escalated into violent confrontations as demonstrators targeted federal law enforcement officers, throwing rocks and engaging in looting. Videos from the scene depicted cars being set ablaze and segments of the freeway being seized by rioters.
In response to the chaos, Trump announced the deployment of 2,000 National Guard personnel to restore order in Los Angeles. Additionally, hundreds of Marines were sent to counter the mounting disorder in the city.
Trump remarked on social media, “If I hadn’t deployed troops to Los Angeles over the past three nights, that once beautiful city would now be in ruins.”
As the nation examines the broader implications of these events, the interplay of politics, social unrest, and community stability remains a pressing concern for many.
