White House Calls on Local Governments To Address Squatting Following Recent String of Incidents

The White House on Monday called on local governments to take action and address squatting in their areas following a recent string of incidents.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was recently asked where President Joe Biden stands on the recent trend of squatting and whether Americans need to be worried about squatters. In response, Jean-Pierre said squatting is a "local issue" and called local governments to "take action."

"My understanding is that this is obviously a local issue. We are certainly tracking that issue," she told Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy, who raised the issue. "The rights of property owners and renters must be protected. And we believe that ultimately what needs to happen is that the local government needs to make sure that they address this, and they take action."

Jean-Pierre was also asked whether President Biden would sign into law legislation that would allow homeowners to call law enforcement on squatters. However, Jean-Pierre said she refused to address "hypotheticals" and emphasized that it is a "local issue."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last week signed a new law that would allow homeowners to file a complaint to local law enforcement and have squatters immediately removed from their homes if they are unable to produce document authorizing their residency. The law would also allow law enforcement officers to file misdemeanor or felony charges against the squatters. The law will take effect on July 1.

Squatting in the U.S.

The White House's statement comes after a string of squatting incidents made headlines over the past weeks.

Earlier this week, a pair of alleged squatters in New York City reportedly sued the rightful owners of a $930,000 investment home they took over. The squatters were removed from the property by police officers after they failed to provide proof that they had stayed there since January. In the state of New York, tenants would only need to stay in a property for 30 days to claim rights.

Last Wednesday, the NYPD arrested eight gun-toting migrant squatters who took over the basement of a building in the Bronx. Officers searched the apartment and found two more guns, a bag of ketamine, and a bag of ketamine mixed with cocaine. Cops later talked to the building owner who said he didn't know any of the squatters living in the basement, adding that he originally rented to a man named Eduardo, per the New York Post.