As Hurricane Florence brings catastrophic damage to Eastern North and South Carolina,
undocumented immigrants struggle with a tough choice of whether to seek help from
government resources. These services may help them get through the storm but could
ultimately put them at risk for deportation. Even some immigrants with legal status are
weary about going to shelters or seeking other help out of fear that using government
services could endanger their immigration status. The authorities released conflicting
messages about how they will handle cases of undocumented immigrants seeking aid
in regions which, based on the damage, will be facing months of recovery, after the
initial rain, flooding, and power outages. In a statement, a spokesman for ICE declared
that the agency would not be pursuing immigration enforcement operations in areas
damaged by the storm, however, Jeff Byard, an associate administrator for FEMA, stated,
government resources. These services may help them get through the storm but could
ultimately put them at risk for deportation. Even some immigrants with legal status are
weary about going to shelters or seeking other help out of fear that using government
services could endanger their immigration status. The authorities released conflicting
messages about how they will handle cases of undocumented immigrants seeking aid
in regions which, based on the damage, will be facing months of recovery, after the
initial rain, flooding, and power outages. In a statement, a spokesman for ICE declared
that the agency would not be pursuing immigration enforcement operations in areas
damaged by the storm, however, Jeff Byard, an associate administrator for FEMA, stated,
“I’m not going to use the terminology ‘guarantee,’” when reporters asked if undocumented
immigrants would be safe in shelters. Despite the Red Cross policy of denying entry of
immigration agents into shelters without a warrant or court order, many immigrants without
documentation still refrain from residing at these shelters because of recent, increased
enforcement policies under the Trump administration, many of which are supported by
government officials in the Carolinas.
immigrants would be safe in shelters. Despite the Red Cross policy of denying entry of
immigration agents into shelters without a warrant or court order, many immigrants without
documentation still refrain from residing at these shelters because of recent, increased
enforcement policies under the Trump administration, many of which are supported by
government officials in the Carolinas.
What do you think organizations in regions affected by Hurricane Florence should do to help
provide aid to immigrants without legal status? Do you think that there is something more
that these organizations should be doing, or that the government should be doing?
Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2018/09/20/650052758/migrant-workers-hit-hard-by-hurricane-florence
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/19/us/hurricane-florence-immigrants-carolinas.html
provide aid to immigrants without legal status? Do you think that there is something more
that these organizations should be doing, or that the government should be doing?
Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2018/09/20/650052758/migrant-workers-hit-hard-by-hurricane-florence
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/19/us/hurricane-florence-immigrants-carolinas.html
I think that an emergency like Hurricane Florence is not the time to fiddle around with who's a citizen and who isn't. Everyone put in danger by this is a human being, and the government has a responsibility to offer resources to everyone involved.
ReplyDelete--Alessandra Squillace
I definitely think that everyone's survival should be the first thing people be consider about. The action ICE officers doing is taking advantages of these immigrants right to life and do the obs they shouldn't be consider at time like this
ReplyDeleteOrganizations should use any extra money to fund or fund raise to support the immigrants affected by the hurricane. Because 43 percent of the immigrant population is undocumented then they can't reach resources as easily and therefore require more support. Maybe private organizations don't have to help as much either but the government should be doing more to reach out by helping immigrants get resettled again and being more understanding of what they're going through.
ReplyDeleteI think that the government should be helping anyone regardless of their citizenship, because every person deserves aid as a basic human right. I feel like aid organizations are doing as much as they can to prevent immigrants from getting deported by going door to door to provide food/water to keep immigrants as "safe" as possible in terms of deportation. The government shouldn't be regulating who gets to be in the country at the time of an emergency, so ICE shouldn't be used during natural disasters.
ReplyDeleteI think the government should focus more on the well-being of the people that live in the regions affected by Hurricane Florence rather than the whether those people are immigrants. The people living in these area are suffering a great deal and should not have to worry about being deported. Organizations should provide food and shelter for these people to make sure that the safety of these people comes first.
ReplyDeleteThe organizations should release information in different languages about their policy. For example, if the Red Cross says that they would not allow immigration agents without warrants, they should announce that in languages other than English. This at least gives undocumented immigrants the decision to look for aid.
ReplyDeleteI think that organizations and the government could definitely do more for immigrants affected by Hurricane Florence. For example, allowing people to get into shelters no matter on background or citizen status for the sake of people actually surviving.
ReplyDeleteI feel that if you are seeking aid from the hurricane you should not need to state your legal status in the first place. In addition, the shelter/aid is free so there is no need to show identification. The government should be clear on what they are going to do with "illegal" immigrants, put aside legal issues and aid the people first. -naomi
ReplyDeleteI think that all the shelters should focus on getting anyone that is in danger from hurricane Florence out of that danger and into a safe place. They should not be worrying about the personal information of everyone being let in. Being undocumented should be a separate issue completely from giving people of North Carolina a safe place out of the hurricane.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree, safety should come first
DeleteI think its extremely messed up to use a catastrophe to prey on people when their whole lives have already been turned around. ICE should no be allowed to detain suspected illegal immigrants in these types of situations. I think there should be a don't ask don't tell type of environment and that everyone should just be worrying about finding their family members, getting shelter and figuring out their next step.
ReplyDelete- lea
I agree, legal status should not be considered in this situation at all when these people have already lost everything they had. Also I think that it is extremely irresponsible for the government to send ICE officers even if they said they wouldn't be pursuing immigration enforcement operations because the presence of ICE officers creates fear leading people to not seek help if they need it. It is also ridiculous that the authorities released conflicting statements when it is already hard enough for people who don't speak English to get news in North Carolina.
DeleteI think that an official statement should be issued guaranteeing a closed eye policy regarding the ownership of documents. Services should be offered regardless of citizenship or documented immigration, as long as help is needed in the wake of Florence. The government should be perfectly clear about their policy, and definitely use the word “guarantee”.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the current government knows what's worse right now, the people struggling from the damage of the hurricane or their documentation and legal status. As many others have said above, it would just be unfair for those who are not documented AND have been affected by the storm to also worry about being deported when they already have a lot to worry about. The organizations should be a place of refuge and should protect them from the question of their immigration status until they can fully recover.
ReplyDelete