Thread: FEMA says illegal immigrants can benefit from assistance

themonitor.com

FEMA says illegal immigrants can benefit from assistance, but some local leaders aren't so sure
August 3, 2008 - 5:00PM
Laura Tillman
The Brownsville Herald
BROWNSVILLE - In Hurricane Dolly's aftermath, one group is hit particularly hard - illegal immigrants.

Many are afraid to seek federal help, they say, for fear of deportation or of not being treated with simple human dignity.

But although the Federal Emergency Management Agency joined the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2003, FEMA officials insist undocumented residents are at no risk of deportation if they seek aid available through President Bush's local disaster declaration last week.

"Information is shared (between DHS departments), but only on a need-to-know basis," FEMA spokesman Don Jacks said. "We're not a law enforcement agency; we're here to help people."

Nevertheless, local and international officials worry that because of the area's high concentration of undocumented immigrants, local residents' fears will prevent a large segment of the population from seeking assistance.

"We have to provide avenues to help anyone who will fall through the cracks of FEMA," said Richard Garza, a developer with Padre Island Health Specialists, during a meeting at Brownsville's Mexican Consulate on Friday.

Safety buffer

The volume of illegal immigrants whose homes Hurricane Dolly devastated has prompted Garza to team with other local leaders to create a national organization that acts as a safety buffer for natural disaster victims unqualified for FEMA assistance.

Mexican Consul General Victor Manuel Treviño Escudero plans to meet with FEMA officials at his Brownsville office this week to clarify what he called the "confusing" collection of services available to undocumented immigrants.

"We have to serve as the intermediary between people here and the government," Treviño said. "People don't feel comfortable going directly to (U.S. officials)."

Another Consulate official agreed.

"Some people are so afraid of DHS at this point that they won't even go to the hospital when they're sick," said Gabriela Robinson, who represents the Consulate's health program, Ventanillas de Salud.

Former Brownsville Port Director of Customs Jorge Flores - who once directed the Mr. Amigo organization that promotes U.S.-Mexico relations - said the increasingly aggressive attitude toward undocumented immigrants has made it important to create an organization that can serve as a go-between with FEMA for illegal immigrants.

"With the raids that have transpired over the past year, people hold back on everything," Flores said, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations across the country. "The laws have changed to the point where you can get deported the first time you're caught."

"Be careful"

According to FEMA officials, undocumented immigrants homeowners can receive non-cash assistance like food, medical services, temporary emergency housing and Crisis Counseling, regardless of documentation status.

If a member of their household is a legal resident, or if they have a child who is a legal resident, then they can file for cash assistance through that relative.

Documents proving that the home belongs to the individual applying for assistance at that point - such as a deed, tax statement or insurance policy - as well as the Social Security number of the resident applicant, will be necessary for individuals to receive aid.

Rev. Michael Seifert - a priest at San Felipe de Jesus Church in Cameron Park, where he says approximately 25 percent of homes have at least one undocumented resident - said external organizations should continue to serve as watchdogs to ensure FEMA does not use such information for future legal action.

"You're asking people who are hiding from the system to hand their information over to FEMA," Seifert said. "I think we just have to be careful."

http://www.themonitor.com/articles/fema ... _help.html

Just another way to rip us off. Katrina was a bastion of corruption. People paying for luxury items with the money. I don't think FEMA has changed.

Meanwhile, New Orleans is still a mess, and FEMA, in its wisdom, sent millions of dollars worth of household items (coffee makers, etc.) to other government offices, rather than distributing the things to people in need. Trailers that could have helped some of the people of N.O. were left in the mud in Arkansas to sink and become totally unusable, just because of permitting problems. FEMA is a disaster, man-made, not an Act of God.

Populist

FEMA says illegal immigrants can benefit from assistance, but some local leaders aren't so sure
August 3, 2008 - 5:00PM
Laura Tillman
The Brownsville Herald
BROWNSVILLE - In Hurricane Dolly's aftermath, one group is hit particularly hard - illegal immigrants.

GOOD!

Many are afraid to seek federal help, they say, for fear of deportation or of not being treated with simple human dignity.

Good!

Nevertheless, local and international officials worry that because of the area's high concentration of undocumented immigrants, local residents' fears will prevent a large segment of the population from seeking assistance.

Go home and get your assistance, it's my country, NOT yours!

Mexican Consul General Victor Manuel Treviño Escudero plans to meet with FEMA officials at his Brownsville office this week to clarify what he called the "confusing" collection of services available to undocumented immigrants.

This is ridiculous!! Texas NEEDS to start speak up for gods sake.

"We have to serve as the intermediary between people here and the government," Treviño said. "People don't feel comfortable going directly to (U.S. officials)."

GOOD!

"Some people are so afraid of DHS at this point that they won't even go to the hospital when they're sick," said Gabriela Robinson, who represents the Consulate's health program, Ventanillas de Salud.

GOOD!

Former Brownsville Port Director of Customs Jorge Flores - who once directed the Mr. Amigo organization that promotes U.S.-Mexico relations - said the increasingly aggressive attitude toward undocumented immigrants has made it important to create an organization that can serve as a go-between with FEMA for illegal immigrants.

It's called ICE!

According to FEMA officials, undocumented immigrants homeowners can receive non-cash assistance like food, medical services, temporary emergency housing and Crisis Counseling, regardless of documentation status.

Be Serious!

If a member of their household is a legal resident, or if they have a child who is a legal resident, then they can file for cash assistance through that relative.

Well isn't that just wonderful, I bet the Katrina victims would like that deal. They got FEMA help of a trailer that's poisoning all of them.. FEMA needs to be dismantled, they are nothing but a bunch of over-paid screw-ups.

But although the Federal Emergency Management Agency joined the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2003, FEMA officials insist undocumented residents are at no risk of deportation if they seek aid available through President Bush's local disaster declaration last week

This is another example of how insane and distorted this whole issue has become in this country! Our government wants to give money to individuals who entered this country in violation of federal immigration law and who have no right to be here!

No wonder illegal invaders walk around with a sense of entitlement and invincibility! Our government cannot give money to the illegals fast enough!

Mexican Consul General Victor Manuel Treviño Escudero plans to meet with FEMA officials at his Brownsville office this week to clarify what he called the "confusing" collection of services available to undocumented immigrants.

WTF! Has our entire government gone mad! These are our tax dollars your giving away to illegal invaders!!

According to FEMA officials, undocumented immigrants homeowners can receive non-cash assistance like food, medical services, temporary emergency housing and Crisis Counseling, regardless of documentation status.

UMMMM excuse me, but wouldn't "temporary emergency housing" fall into the category of aiding, abetting and harboring illegal aliens?

Are these people all on crack????

And again these elites take our wealth to give to non deserving people without any input from us.

America needs to remind FEMA that their funding comes from Tax Payer Dollars ...

so how is FEMA Confused on this matter

"Mexican Consul General Victor Manuel Treviño Escudero plans to meet with FEMA officials at his Brownsville office this week to clarify what he called the "confusing" collection of services available to undocumented immigrants."

How about someone explaining the "confusing" collection of services to the American people in English, rather than government-speak?