An instructor at Donald Trump's Trump Entrepreneur Initiative—originally known as Trump University—once offered advice about how illegal immigrants can purchase homes in the United States. Real estate agent Tina Merritt wrote a blog post for the Trump Blog in April 2010 titled "Can an Illegal Immigrant Buy a Home in the United States?" Merritt explained that the answer was "yes."
Here's an excerpt from the archived blog post:
First of all, you do not have to have a social security number to buy or sell a home in the U.S. Some mortgage lenders require one; however, there is not a law requiring one. You do need to have some form of government issued identification, even if it is from another country (such as a passport or driver's license).
Those without a social security number will need an ITIN (individual taxpayer identification number) number which is issued by the IRS to foreign nationals for paying taxes on money they earn in the U.S.
Merritt noted that while it is difficult for illegal immigrants to get mortgage loans, several banks have programs designed for those immigrants.
"Lastly, it is not illegal to own real estate in the U.S. even if one is in the country illegally," she wrote. "If getting a mortgage is not an option, one can always pay cash."
The Trump Blog was marketed as an outlet for "Ideas and Opinions from Donald Trump and The Trump Entrepreneur Initiative Instructors." Some former clients of the online education company, a division of the Trump Organization, are currently suing for fraud.
Trump has made cracking down on illegal immigration a centerpiece of his presidential campaign.