National Origin, Immigration, & Refugee Status
State and federal fair housing laws prohibit discrimination based on national origin, religion, and ancestry (Indiana). Fair housing laws protect you regardless of your immigration or refugee status. Some landlords, owners, real estate agents, etc., might ask if you are in the country legally, ask to see your green card or visa, or ask for your social security number. If you think that you are being asked these questions because of where you are from, where you may be perceived to be from, or due to your religion, contact the FHCCI.
The FHCCI’s work in challenging housing discrimination due to national origin intersects with several areas. See our pages on Appraisals, Criminal History, Insurance, Lending, Rent to Own/Land Contracts, Sales, and Tenant Screening for additional information.
Types of housing discrimination due to national origin may include:
- Proof of citizenship or legal status solely due to someone’s national origin.
- Requiring that someone “must speak English” in order to be rented to.
- Providing different loan products due to national origin or targeting people with predatory products solely due to their national origin.
- An advertisement which states, “No Mexicans” or a sign in front of a vacant home that says “No Burmese.”
- Charging different deposits or application requirements solely due to someone’s national origin.
- A public housing authority who refuses to provide a translator or provide documents in alternative languages upon request.
FHCCI Resources:
- FHCCI Fact Sheet 15 – Immigrants, Refugees, and People of All Religious Faiths Fair Housing Rights
- Suggested Alternative Documents for Screening Immigrant Populations, 2023 (English)
- Documentos alternativos sugeridos para el control de la población inmigrante, 2023 (Spanish)
- The State of Fair Housing in Indiana Report – Land Contracts: The Promise and Perils of Alternative Home Financing, Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana, June 30, 2024
Government Guidance & Resources:
- HUD Fact Sheet: Protecting Persons from Housing Discrimination Based on Actual or Perceived Shared Ancestry or Ethnic Characteristics, September 23, 2023
- HUD Ensuring Fair Housing Amidst Ongoing Religious Discrimination in the United States, May 25, 2023
- HUD Fact Sheet: Preventing and Addressing Harassment in Housing, May 4, 2020
- HUD Guidance on Fair Housing Act Protections for Persons with Limited English Proficiency, September 15, 2016 (Rescinded September 16, 2025)
- HUD/HHS/DOJ Joint Statement Regarding Immigrant and Domestic Violence Survivor Access to Housing & Services, August 5, 2016
- HUD Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Guidance, January 22, 2007 (Rescinded September 17, 2025)
- HUD Immigration Status and Housing Discrimination Frequently Asked Questions:
- Housing Discrimination Against Racial and Ethnic Minorities 2012: U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, June 2013
- DOJ Post 9/11 Forms of Discrimination and Information
- U.S. Immigrations & Customs Enforcement, Prosecutorial Discretion, June 17, 2011
Other Resources:
- Know Your Rights: Sharing Information About Immigration Status in HUD Housing Programs, National Housing Law Project, June 2025
- Understanding an ITIN number for legal residency.
- Cooking Odors & National Origin, Northwest Fair Housing Alliance
Reports of Interest:
- Asian Americans Face Systemic Higher Mortgage Denial Rates Despite Having Stronger Credit Profiles, Urban Institute, November 1, 2021
- Racial Discrimination and Housing Outcomes in the United States Rental Market, National Bureau of Economic Research, November 2021
- Toward a More Perfect Union: Understanding Systemic Racism and Resulting Inequity in Latino Communities, UnidosUS, April 2021
- Fair Housing Rental Testing Audit Report for Indianapolis Metro Area, Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana, April 2013
In 2016, the FHCCI became aware of a discriminatory sign posted in front of a vacant home that was targeting the Burmese/Chin community.