As stories of illegal immigrants-turned-squatters make national headlines, a new bill in Congress would make it a deportable offense for foreign nationals to squat in American homes.
If Congress doesn’t take action, Mr. Meuser warned, people will continue to come to the United States illegally and live as squatters.
“The dramatic increase in the number of illegal immigrants squatting in American homes is yet another example of how the disastrous situation at our southern border is impacting communities across the country,” the congressman said in a statement announcing the bill. “This legislation will serve as a deterrent to illegal aliens contemplating violating the homes and properties of American citizens.”
“It will force migrants to think twice before attempting to trespass on or unlawfully possess an American’s property,” he added.
The practice of squatting—or residing in a home against the wishes of its lawful owner, seems to have generated some bipartisan disgust over recent weeks.
Last week, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) spoke against the concept of “squatters’ rights,” questioning why there exists a legal pathway for those who violate property rights to claim any rights over that property.
“Squatters have no rights,” Mr. Fetterman said in an April 6 interview with the New York Post. “How can you even pretend that this is anything other than you’re just breaking the law?”
Every state has different laws around unauthorized tenants. Those laws usually offer trespassers the legal right to continue living in a place they have lived in for an extended amount of time, in the event that the lawful owner does not evict or take action against the squatter.
In New York, for example, a squatter can be awarded “adverse possession” under state law if they have been living in a property for 10 years or more. In New York City, meanwhile, people who are able to remain in a home for just 30 days can claim squatter’s rights.
“It’s wild that if you go away on a long trip for 30 days, and someone breaks into your home and suddenly they have rights,” the hoodie-and-shorts-wearing senator told The Post.
“This is crazy,” he continued. “Like, if somebody stole your car, and then they held it for 30 days, then somehow you now have some rights?”
In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a law cracking down on those who would try to squat in other people’s homes. The law, among other things, makes it easier for homeowners to request police assistance in removing squatters from their property.
During the March 27 signing ceremony, Mr. DeSantis noted an incident in which a woman in New York was arrested for changing the locks at her squatter-occupied home. He also mentioned the death of 52-year-old Nadia Vitels, who was allegedly killed by two squatters living in her Manhattan apartment.
“Just a few days ago, two squatters in New York City allegedly murdered the property owner when she confronted them for being in her apartment illegally,” he said. “In fact, we even have illegal aliens taking to social media, instructing other foreigners how to come into this country and commandeer property.”
The governor was likely referring to Leonel Moreno, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela who gained notoriety for encouraging his comrades to take over people’s homes.
