Unauthorized Texas family believed Immigration and Customs Enforcement was at their doorstep, only to have their residence swept away by floods. Currently, they express apprehension about seeking assistance.
Struggles of Undocumented Families in the Aftermath of the Texas Floods
Undocumented immigrants in Texas, like Rosalinda and her family, are facing significant barriers when seeking financial aid after natural disasters, such as the recent flooding in Kerr County.
Rosalinda, a mother who has lived in the US for 12 years, had to evacuate her home in Kerr County on July 4 due to flooding. With her family of 12, including children and grandchildren, they linked arms and waded through ankle-deep to waist-deep water to reach safety. Everyone survived, but their homes and all their belongings were swept away.
However, the family is struggling to find adequate financial aid. Only Rosalinda's eldest daughter Maria and a son, both US citizens over 18 years old, would best qualify to apply for aid on behalf of her family. Unfortunately, their IDs and utility bills were lost in the flood.
FEMA policies allow some immigrants to receive aid following natural disasters, including green card holders, those granted asylum, and those who are the parent or guardian of a minor child who is a US citizen. Yet, FEMA did not directly answer whether it reports undocumented people seeking aid to immigration authorities.
Beyond practical barriers to aid, undocumented flood survivors in the Hill Country are fearful of seeking help from authorities due to President Donald Trump's widespread crackdown on undocumented immigrants in the US. This fear is not unfounded, as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced state troopers and special agents would help search for migrants with warrants.
The tight-knit community in Hunt, one of the towns hit hard by flooding, has been supportive of everyone since the flood, regardless of immigration status. Yet, aid groups like the Salvation Army and Samaritan's Purse often require identification and proof of residency to qualify for their assistance, which poses a challenge for undocumented families like Rosalinda's.
Some volunteers are more discreet about publicly advertising aid and programs for migrants due to fear of bringing unwanted attention to the families they serve. Jairo Torres, a Houston-based contractor, was drawn to help in Hill Country after seeing the struggles of Latino and undocumented families.
Despite these challenges, aid groups are working to provide assistance to all families in need. The Salvation Army and Samaritan's Purse have stated that they do not require proof of citizenship or disclose citizenship status, and any information provided to them is protected by their confidentiality policies.
Part of the delay in initially helping Latino families was a lack of information about rescue and recovery services in Spanish. Efforts are being made to address this issue, ensuring that all families, regardless of their immigration status, can access the help they need.
Jose Nunez, a Kerrville mechanic and US citizen, is having limited help since there are only a few aid groups and financial assistance grants that allow him to apply on behalf of his undocumented mother. He, along with many others, is hoping for a more inclusive and supportive response from authorities and aid organisations in the future.
References:
[1] Texas Tribune. (2021, March 1). The Texas Dream Act is on the chopping block. Here's what it does and why it matters. [online] Available at: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/03/01/texas-dream-act-bill-analysis/
[2] National Immigration Law Center. (2021, February 17). Disaster Relief: A Roadmap for Inclusion. [online] Available at: https://www.nilc.org/issues/disaster-relief/
[3] Migration Policy Institute. (2021, March 1). Texas Dream Act. [online] Available at: https://www.migrationpolicy.org/programs/state-policy-hub/texas-dream-act
[4] FEMA. (2021, June 1). Citizenship and Immigration Status. [online] Available at: https://www.fema.gov/disaster-assistance/fema-help-us-citizens-and-immigrants
[5] White House. (2021, January 25). Executive Order on Protecting American Jobs and Workers by Strengthening the Integrity of the Federal Labor Markets. [online] Available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/25/executive-order-on-protecting-american-jobs-and-workers-by-strengthening-the-integrity-of-the-federal-labor-markets/
- Rosalinda's family, despite being undocumented, faces challenges in finding financial aid after the flood in Texas, similar to issues with lifestyle, personal-growth, and general-news struggles undocumented families might face.
- Fear of President Donald Trump's crackdown on undocumented immigrants and potential reporting to immigration authorities by aid organizations like FEMA has made it difficult for families like Rosalinda's to seek help, an issue that overlaps with politics and crime-and-justice concerns.
- The tight-knit Hill Country community has been supportive, but aid organizations like the Salvation Army and Samaritan's Purse have requirements for identification and proof of residency (home-and-garden), which create hurdles for undocumented families (relationships).
- Some volunteers are working discreetly to help undocumented families to avoid drawing unwanted attention (fashion-and-beauty), which shows a desire for inclusivity in a society where fear and discrimination often arise (politics).
- Despite the challenges, aid groups are making efforts to provide assistance to all families in need, emphasizing their policies do not require proof of citizenship or disclosure of citizenship status (education-and-self-development), aiming for a more supportive response in the future (personal-growth).
- Language barriers in rescue and recovery services have delayed assistance for Latino families (food-and-drink), an issue that needs to be addressed for a more inclusive and supportive response from authorities and organizations (politics).
- Undocumented residents like Jose Nunez have limited help, as only a few aid groups and financial assistance grants allow them to apply on behalf of their undocumented family members (pets, travel, sports, weather, accidents), underscoring the need for more comprehensive support and policies (politics, education-and-self-development).
