Thread: FL illegal aliens sue FEMA for more disaster aid relief

Farmworkers Sue FEMA Over Disaster Aid

MIAMI -- A coalition of Florida farmworkers has sued the Federal Emergency Management Agency, alleging the government refused to help undocumented farmworkers displaced by hurricanes with housing because of their immigration status.

Many farmworkers who were denied federal help after their homes was destroyed were forced to live in cars and other dangerous situations, while trailers intended for emergency housing went unused, according to a lawsuit filed last week.

FEMA spokeswoman Debbie Wing on Monday declined to comment on the case.

The workers were denied short-term disaster housing during the hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005, including relocation to mobile homes or hotels, because they did not meet the government's definition of "qualified alien," the lawsuit said.

The Coalition of Florida Farmworker Organizations and the Farmworker Association of Florida said in the suit that federal law exempts short-term non-cash emergency disaster relief from restrictions based on immigration status.

Emergency aid from the government would have mitigated the effect of the storms on farmworker communities, according to the lawsuit, which asked the court to review FEMA's actions in withholding or delaying relief to undocumented farmworkers.

Hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 ravaged much of the housing used by farmworkers and the rural poor.

In one instance, FEMA brought 92 trailers to a mobile home park destroyed in 2004, but more than 40 of them were left unoccupied because of restrictions on their use by undocumented immigrants, according to the lawsuit.

The suit also names acting FEMA chief R. David Paulison as a defendant. It seeks a permanent injunction restraining the agency from denying emergency assistance to undocumented farmworkers and a judgment that the policy violates current federal law.

In 2005 alone, four hurricanes _ Dennis, Katrina, Rita and Wilma _ caused $7.5 billion in insured damages and were blamed for 63 deaths in Florida.

Give me a break.

And you know what the worst part is ? George and Jeb will give in and give ANYBODY ANYTHING just to get them to be quiet.

With the exception of .....LEGAL AMERICAN CITIZENS. For some reason they don't seem to count.

gee it must be wonderful to be illegal and know you can extort money from the american taxpayers anytime you want- this must be the new american dream

Emergency aid from the government would have mitigated the effect of the storms on farmworker communities, according to the lawsuit, which asked the court to review FEMA's actions in withholding or delaying relief to undocumented farmworkers.

The effects would have been mitigated further if these people weren't here in the first place.

Originally Posted by JohnB2012

Emergency aid from the government would have mitigated the effect of the storms on farmworker communities, according to the lawsuit, which asked the court to review FEMA's actions in withholding or delaying relief to undocumented farmworkers.

The effects would have been mitigated further if these people weren't here in the first place.

This would have been mitigated even further if our inept federal government would have done their jobs and kept them out in the first place.

Why don't the farmers who are hiring them and care so much for them, give them a place to live? The answer: let the taxpayers subsidize our cheap labor force. The feds should deport any illegal alien, who signs their name to the lawsuit.

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