Illegal immigrants entering the United States through the southern border could worsen the ongoing nationwide squatter issue, experts warn. With tenants’ rights laws in some states protecting non-paying individuals who occupy properties that do not belong to them, police in most jurisdictions have taken a hands-off approach to this problem. Concerns are growing that illegal immigrants may discover how easy it is to take over someone’s vacant property.
James S. Burling, vice president of legal affairs for the Pacific Legal Foundation in California, believes that while he hasn’t personally seen the squatter issue exacerbated by illegal immigrants, it may only be a matter of time. He explains that people are smart and will find out about loopholes, especially if they are waiting for an asylum decision. Gangs already take advantage of these loopholes, so there’s no reason why immigrants wouldn’t do the same.
Flash Shelton, who got involved in the squatter business after his mother’s home was taken over by people with no legal property rights, has started his own squatter removal company called Squatter Hunters. Shelton predicts that the sheer number of illegal immigrants crossing the borders of California, Arizona, and Texas will lead to an influx of issues in the near future. He criticizes the decision to open up borders without having the necessary resources to take care of the homeless population.
Squatting is not just a U.S. issue; it is a global problem. The United Nations estimates that there are a billion squatters worldwide, and immigrants are well aware of this trend. Even specific cities across the country, such as Atlanta, deal with this issue daily. According to the National Rental Home Council, there are 1,200 homes in the metro area occupied by squatters. Squatter’s rights in many locales allow squatters to occupy a home if the owner or landlord hasn’t taken action.
Even when legal action is taken to remove squatters, court backlogs can result in them staying for up to eight months before their first hearing. With housing inventory shortages, some squatters are even writing up their own leases and changing locks to claim the property as their own. Property owners face significant challenges in reclaiming their properties, as highlighted by Eric Gaylord, the owner of Georgia Building Inspection. He encountered a home for sale that had already been under contract, but the locks had been changed by squatters. This incident delayed the transaction by a month and required involvement from law enforcement.
David Yukelson, the executive director and CEO of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, explains that in California, property owners and landlords have more to be worried about than just illegal immigrants squatting in their properties. He mentions cases where tenants moved in their formerly incarcerated boyfriends or how Colombian drug gangs would pay rent initially but engage in illegal activities until they were eventually kicked out. The lack of police involvement in civil matters like squatters further exacerbates the problem.
The lack of police involvement in squatter issues has led to the emergence of businesses like Squatter Hunters. Its founder, Flash Shelton, informs the police about his intentions to evict squatters but asks them to stay back until he needs them. Shelton’s efforts are well-documented, and he is already in talks for developing a television program. He emphasizes that squatter laws come down to possession and ensures that all his actions are captured on camera.
In conclusion, illegal immigrants entering the United States may contribute to the ongoing nationwide squatter issue. With tenants’ rights laws protecting non-paying individuals who occupy properties that do not belong to them, police have taken a hands-off approach. Experts warn that it may only be a matter of time before illegal immigrants discover how easy it is to take over vacant properties. Squatting is a global problem, and specific cities like Atlanta already face daily challenges related to squatters. Court backlogs and housing inventory shortages further complicate the issue for property owners. The lack of police involvement in civil matters like squatters has given rise to businesses like Squatter Hunters, which document their efforts to remove squatters.
