Policy & Law Immigration Isn’t the Cause of Soaring Housing Costs — Policy Is By Janice • Updated September 19, 2025 Real drivers of housing inflation: land-use rules, capital flows, and underbuilt supply. TL;DR: Immigration is often blamed for high housing costs, but the main levers are zoning constraints, speculative investment, and decades of underfunding affordable housing. Fix policy, and prices follow. What the Law Actually Says Federal housing eligibility rules already limit access to subsidized programs; undocumented residents are generally ineligible, and many lawful immigrants face wait periods. Meanwhile, the Fourteenth Amendment protects “persons,” not only citizens, so blanket housing exclusions based on status are constitutionally...