SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) – A New Mexico mobile home community operated by a Native American tribe is requiring that all residents show proof they are living in the United States legally.

Tesuque Pueblo notified residents of the Tesuque Trailer Village in a letter dated Oct. 17 that all tenants must sign new rental contracts and show officials U.S. birth certificates, passports or immigration documents, The Santa Fe New Mexican reported (http://bit.ly/vC18Jy ).

Neither federal nor state law prohibits renting to illegal immigrants. However, Tesuque Pueblo is a sovereign nation and is entitled to change policies with the approval of its Tribal Council and governor, according to several city, state and federal officials.

Tesuque Pueblo officials did not immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press.

The tribe also is raising residents' rent. For years, tenants of the Tesuque Trailer Village near Santa Fe paid $300 a month to rent space. As of November, the rent will be $400 plus $26.50 of gross-receipts tax, an official notice showed.

The new rules present complications for some households, such as that of Alicia Olivas. She is in the process of obtaining her legal residency card, and her youngest daughter was born in the U.S. However, her husband and older daughter are illegal immigrants.

At a meeting with nearly two dozen tenants Friday in a Santa Fe apartment complex, Olivas said property manager Dan Clavio told her the two illegal immigrants had to leave.

“If he doesn't accept my husband and my daughter, I'm going to have to leave because I'm not splitting my family,” Olivas said.

Several residents said they are speaking with local lawyers to see what legal options they have.

Adonias Mendez, who has become the unofficial tenant leader, said he was collecting statements from residents and is hoping they can personally speak with Tesuque Pueblo Gov. Frederick Vigil. Many residents have lived in the community for five to 10 years, Mendez said, and they've never had such problems before.

Tesuque Pueblo receives money from several federal agencies, including a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant program. But a HUD spokeswoman said the department does not ask that landlords verify residency documents.

Under New Mexico law, illegal immigrants do not have to show they are legally in the U.S. to rent housing – or attend public schools and get basic utilities such as water and sewer.

Tesuque Trailer Village is 10 miles north of Santa Fe.

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Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com