A proposed Department of Housing and Urban Development rule would crack down on illegal immigrants or unqualified people living in public housing, closing a loophole established amid major departmental reforms under President Bill Clinton in 1996.

Current HUD rules allow «mixed-status» households to use public housing under what is called the «do not contend» provision, in which a person living among a public housing family can declare they «do not contend» their HUD eligibility under their immigration status, and the family instead receives prorated housing assistance.

The HUD-ineligible family member or members may remain in public housing so long as the family accepts their diminished subsidies, according to reports.

The new HUD rule proposed this week under Secretary Scott Turner would eliminate the option for residents to say they «do not contend» and instead require every member to verify citizenship or prove eligible noncitizen status to continue receiving housing assistance.

The proposed rule would not categorically prohibit noncitizens from public housing, but those remaining would have to prove they are eligible for taxpayer-funded assistance.

While illegal immigrants would be barred, green-card holders are currently fully eligible under federal housing law.

People admitted to the U.S. under official refugee or asylee status also remain eligible, as well as individuals whose DHS order of removal is being legally withheld due to threat of personal harm in their home country.

Cuban emigres who have fled the Communist dictatorship 90 miles off Key West have also historically been considered eligible, as have certain foreign domestic violence or trafficking victims.

Turner’s proposal, however, would guarantee that all people living in HUD-funded housing are eligible under statute.

The longstanding HUD Act of 1980, which the Clinton-era reforms adjusted, already prohibits HUD from providing financial assistance to ineligible noncitizens, and Turner’s reforms would make the prorated assistance option temporary instead of indefinite, pending eligibility verification.

«Under President Trump’s leadership, the days of illegal aliens, ineligibles, and fraudsters gaming the system and riding the coattails of American taxpayers are over,» said Turner, a former Washington Redskins cornerback.

BIDEN-ERA RENTAL ASSISTANCE INCLUDED PAYMENTS TO DEAD TENANTS AND NON-CITIZENS, NEW HUD REPORT REVEALS

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced on Dec. 11 that it was opening an investigation into the city of Boston, alleging the city’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion housing practices violate federal anti-discrimination laws. (Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

«HUD’s proposed rule will guarantee that all residents in HUD-funded housing are eligible tenants. We have zero tolerance for pushing aside hardworking U.S. citizens while enabling others to exploit decades-old loopholes.»

Turner previously wrote in a Washington Post op-ed that previous administrations «turned a blind eye» to enforcing these types of HUD laws and policies.

«Liberal officials at both the federal and state level purposefully blurred and weakened the law by allowing some applicants for HUD assistance to simply sign a declaration of citizenship without requiring any documentation or proof,» he said in one example.

Critics of the change, however, said HUD’s efforts are going to lead to families being booted from public housing.

«Our country can ensure that every one of us, no matter where we come from or what language we speak, has a safe home,» National Housing Law Project executive director Shamus Roller told the Associated Press.

«Trump is trying to evict immigrant families, citizen and non-citizen, from HUD housing.»

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Roller’s colleague Sonya Acosta told the wire service that the new policy would wrongly force an «agonizing choice between losing the assistance that helps [families] pay rent every month or separating their family.»

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Børge Brende, who has faced scrutiny due to the revelation of links between him and the late Jeffrey Epstein, is stepping down from his role as World Economic Forum president and CEO.

«I am grateful for the incredible collaboration with my colleagues, partners, and constituents, and I believe now is the right moment for the Forum to continue its important work without distractions,» Brende said in a statement.

Disclosures by the U.S. Justice Department indicated that Brende had attended three business dinners with Epstein and engaged him in communications through email and texts, according to Reuters.

«In light of these interactions, the Governing Board requested the Audit and Risk Committee to look into the matter, which subsequently decided to initiate an independent review,» the WEF noted in a statement, the outlet reported earlier this month. «This decision underscores the Forum’s commitment to transparency and maintaining its integrity.»

In the statement about Brende’s departure, the globalist body noted, «The independent review conducted by outside counsel has concluded. The findings stated that there were no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed.»

WEF’s co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink said in a statement on behalf of the board of trustees that they wanted «to express our sincere appreciation for Børge Brende’s significant contributions to the World Economic Forum.»

«His dedication and leadership have been instrumental during a pivotal period of reforms for the organization, leading to a successful annual meeting in Davos. We respect his decision to step down,» they said.

«We are pleased to announce that Alois Zwinggi will serve as Interim President and CEO and looking forward to his continued collaboration and partnership over time,» Hoffmann and Fink added. «The Board of Trustees will oversee the leadership transition including the plan to drive a proper process to identify a permanent successor.»

FORMER NORWEGIAN PM THORBJØRN JAGLAND HOSPITALIZED AMID EPSTEIN PROBE

Close-up image of a tablet screen displaying a portrait of Jeffrey Epstein beside the official U.S. Department of Justice website page titled Epstein Library in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 11, 2026. (Véronique Tournier/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)

Brende asserted in a statement that he met Epstein while attending a dinner that former Norwegian Deputy Prime Minister Terje Rod-Larsen invited him to, according to Reuters.

Brende noted that he later went to two similar dinners that included Epstein and that those dinners plus «a few emails and SMS messages» comprised the full scope of his engagements with Epstein, according to the outlet.

SON OF NORWAY’S CROWN PRINCESS TO FACE RAPE CHARGES AS NEW EPSTEIN FILES MENTION HER HUNDREDS OF TIMES

World Economic Forum President Borge Brende delivers a speech at the annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 20, 2026. (Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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«I was completely unaware of Epstein’s past and criminal activities,» Brende noted, according to the outlet. 

«Had I known about his background, I would have declined the initial invitation to join Rod-Larsen and any subsequent dinner invitations or other communications,» he said.

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La implementación de inteligencia artificial se filtra en el sector energético de El Salvador para planificar, predecir y modernizar los sistemas de transmisión, consolidando al país como un referente regional. Así lo afirmó Edwin Núñez, presidente de la Empresa Transmisora de El Salvador (Etesal), quien resaltó el avance tecnológico del país.

En entrevista de Diálogo 21, de Grupo Megavisión, Núñez aseguró que El Salvador se posiciona como líder en la integración de tecnología del sector eléctrico. Núñez precisó que desde la llegada del presidente Nayib Bukele en 2019, el país ha realizado inversiones en diversificación y modernización energética. “El Salvador es referente en el tema energético. El presidente Bukele comenzó a trabajar en la diversificación con la entrada de Energía del Pacífico, una inversión de más de $1,000 millones y más de 300 megavatios instalados”, detalló Núñez.

“Definitivamente, la inteligencia artificial es una herramienta poderosa que viene a solucionar diferentes problemas. ¿Y, cómo lo soluciona? A través del análisis y predicción”, dijo Núñez. En ese marco, el funcionario aseguró que la empresa está “trabajando en la implementación” de aplicativos “muy importantes como la predicción” o que puedan “correr programas para hacer consultas”.

Núñez mencionó la importancia de usar inteligencia artificial en sistemas de planificación y expansión de la red eléctrica. Sostuvo que están utilizando esta tecnología para la planificación del sector eléctrico, incorporando variables de crecimiento en vivienda, turismo e industrias, lo que permite predecir escenarios y orientar inversiones. Esta metodología, según Etesal, facilita una gestión más eficiente y resiliente frente a desafíos como sequías o cambios en la demanda.

Durante el espacio televisivo, Núñez también indicó que se ha incluido una ponencia sobre inteligencia artificial en el evento del CECACIER 2026, que tendrá lugar del 2 al 6 de marzo en El Salvador.

Una de las conferencias abordará las experiencias de países de la región y mercados más avanzados, donde la inteligencia artificial ya se implementa para predecir consumos, automatizar operaciones y resolver contingencias en tiempo real. Núñez destacó que en los foros internacionales, todos los países están comenzando a aplicar inteligencia artificial en el sector eléctrico, especialmente en la operación y la predicción.

Uno de los casos más emblemáticos de adopción tecnológica en El Salvador es DoctorSV, una aplicación basada en inteligencia artificial lanzada por el presidente Nayib Bukele el 13 de noviembre de 2025. Esta plataforma, diseñada en principio para el sector salud, permite a los médicos acceder a consultas asistidas por IA y ha alcanzado a miles de salvadoreños. Núñez subrayó que este ejemplo demuestra la capacidad del país para implementar soluciones de alto impacto social y tecnológico.

El presidente de Etesal afirmó que “El Salvador genera condiciones favorables para la inversión, no solo por la seguridad física y jurídica, sino también por la diversificación de su matriz energética”. El país cuenta con fuentes hídricas, gas, energía solar y eólica, lo que ha evitado racionamientos incluso en periodos de sequía, a diferencia de otros países de la región.

La interconexión regional, a través del Sistema de Interconexión Eléctrica de los Países de América Central (SIEPAC), refuerza la importancia de la innovación en transmisión, según Núñez. Cada avance en la red salvadoreña repercute en la estabilidad y eficiencia del sistema regional. La visión del gobierno y la articulación entre actores públicos y privados han consolidado a El Salvador como modelo competitivo en energía e innovación tecnológica.

El desarrollo de nuevas líneas de transmisión, la expansión de subestaciones y la apertura a la inversión extranjera conforman la hoja de ruta de Etesal para los próximos años. Según Núñez, completar los anillos eléctricos en las zonas occidental y oriental, así como construir una nueva línea de 230 kilovoltios, incrementará la capacidad y eficiencia del sistema, garantizando un suministro constante para acompañar el crecimiento habitacional, industrial y tecnológico del país.