With major hurricanes approaching Central Florida this season, Maria knows it’s dangerous to stay inside a wooden trailer-like home. In a storm of the past, she was taken shelter in her sister’s sturdy home. If she was unable to get there, shelter set up at the local high school served as shelter if necessary.
But it is not clear whether those options are safe with immigration aggressively accelerating across the Apopka community 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Orlando, Maria, and the permanent Mexican agricultural workers without a permanent US legal status. All the risks encountered with immigration enforcement agents.
“They can go where they want,” said Maria, 50, who claimed that the Associated Press would not use her last name for fear of being detained. “There are no restrictions.”
Natural disasters have been raised for a long time A unique risk For the people of America who have no permanent legal status. but, Arrivals for Peak Atlantic Hurricane Seasonsays immigrants and their advocates are militaristic of President Donald Trump. Immigration Enforcement Agenda The danger has increased.
Locations considered neutral spaces by immigrants such as schools, hospitals, emergency management agencies, etc. are currently suspected, and agreements made by local law enforcement agencies. Work with US immigration and customs enforcement Choose physical safety or avoid detention, making them more vulnerable.
“Are you at risk of risking the storm or putting your family at shelter?” said Dominique O’Connor, organizer of the Florida Association of Farmers. “I’m going to meet with the enforcement either way.”
For O’Connor, and for many immigrants, it’s about the storm. But people without permanent legal status can face these decisions everywhere that extreme heat, wildfires, or other harsh weather may require evacuation, obtaining supplies, or even seeking medical care.
Federal and state agencies have made little statements about whether immigration enforcement will be suspended in disasters. There’s not much difference between Maria. “Everything we’ve lived has lost faith.”
New policy deepens concerns
Trump’s Republican administration’s efforts to exponentially expand immigration enforcement capabilities mean that many disaster response agencies are increasingly intertwined with immigration enforcement.
Hundreds of law enforcement have signed since January 287 (g) contractallowing certain immigration enforcement measures to be implemented. Most of the contracts are in Florida and Texas, where hurricanes are prone to occur.
Florida State Emergency Management Supervision Construction of a new detention facility in the statelike What’s called “Wannial Catraz” by the Everglades. Federal Emergency Management Agency funds are being used to build additional detention centers nationwide, and the Department of Homeland Security has temporarily reassigned some FEMA staff to support ICE.
The National Guard, which is often seen to place food and water after a disaster, Supports US customs and border security operations Help at the detention center.
These dual roles can create intimidating scenes during disasters. After the July floods, more than 2,100 staff from 20 state agencies, along with CBP officials, supported a widespread response effort in central Texas. The police controlled entry into the hard hit area. The Texas Department of Public Safety and private security guards set up an entrance to the Disaster Recovery Center established by FEMA.
Rei Cardenas, executive director of Doyle Community Center in Carville, Texas, states that even that unstable family with permanent legal status. Cardenas coordinated with the Mexican consulate in San Antonio to help replace documents from those who lived behind police checkpoints.
“Some families are afraid of receiving mail as legal documents have been washed away,” Cardenas said.
In Florida, these policies can make people less likely to drive on evacuation roads. Traffic stops are a frequent detention tool, and Florida passed the law in February Criminalize entry into the nation The judge temporarily blocked it, but by people without legal status.
Public shelters that are often protected by police or require you to enter your ID are no longer considered “protected areas” by DHS, so there may be fewer places to evacuate. January agency Policy has been revoked Democrat Joe Biden is trying to avoid enforcement in schools, medical facilities and emergency response sites.
Fear extends to disaster recovery. In addition to meeting law enforcement agencies at FEMA recovery centres, mixed status households eligible for assistance from the agency may hesitate to apply for their fears Information accessed by other agenciessaid Esmeralda Ledezma, communications associate with Woori Juntos, a Houston-based nonprofit organization. “Even if you have the right to federal aid, you’re afraid to punish it,” Ledezma said.
In past emergency situations, DHS has released messaging statements It will suspend immigration enforcement. Currently, the agency’s policy is unknown.
DHS Deputy Chief Tricia McLaughlin said in an email that the CBP had not issued guidance “as there were no natural disasters affecting border enforcement.” She did not address what directions were given during CBP activation in floods in Texas, or whether ice would be active during disasters.
Florida’s emergency management department did not respond to policies related to its policy-related questions for people without legal status. The Texas Department of Emergency Management introduced the Associated Press to the Republican Governor Greg Abbott’s office, but it didn’t respond.
Building local resilience is a priority
Despite the crackdown, local officials in several hurricane-prone areas are expanding outreach to immigrant groups. “We’re trying to move forward in business as usual,” said Graya Fernandez, language access coordinator for Alachua County, central Florida.
Last year, the county launched a program to translate and distribute emergency communications in Spanish, Haitian Creole and other languages. Now, staff want to spread the word that county shelters don’t need IDs, but Fernandez has admitted that there’s nothing they can do when ice comes.
“There’s still a risk,” she said. “But we will do our best to help people feel safe.”
With the immigrant communities being pushed deeper into the shadows, more responsibility rests on the nonprofit and the community itself to keep each other safe.
The Hope Community Center in Apopka has urged local officials to promise not to request IDs at shelters or Sandbag distribution points. During evacuation, the facility becomes an alternative shelter and command center, from which staff translate and send emergency communications in multiple languages. For those who don’t leave the house, staff will do wellness checks on door to door to deliver food and water.
“It’s a very grassroots, underground business,” said Felipe Sueza Laza Barrett, executive director of the centre.
According to Sousa Lazaballet, community preparation is challenging when consumed by the daily crises caused by detention and deportation.
“We’re all in triage mode,” he said. “With emergency situations every day, the community isn’t necessarily thinking about hurricane season yet, which is why we have to make plans.”
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