When former Maravilla Housing Development resident Julia (prefers to not share last name) read a letter from the agency that manages the public housing development where she grew up, informing her that her parents' citizen status could legally be disclosed to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), she felt scared.
“But I'm used to it,” she told L.A. TACO during an interview. “Growing up there, you gave up your privacy.”
The letter explains 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 may be an increase in data sharing between the agencies specific to the citizenship status of participants in housing programs,” including Maravilla residents like Julia’s family.
Sierra no longer lives at Maravilla, but both her parents still do.
“I'm just concerned for most of the community,” she says.