For illegals in disaster zones, seeking help could be costly

Janet Murguia, a former KU vice chancellor who is now president and chief executive of the National Council of La Raza, laid into the Bush administration in a commentary in Monday’s Washington Post over reports that officials are sweeping hurricane shelters looking to bust and deport illegal immigrants. She writes: "No matter what you believe about the nation’s failed immigration policies and the presence of undocumented immigrants in the United States, you should be alarmed that the federal government is willing to breach the promise of safe harbor offered by its own agencies and those run by private charities. Not only does it offend every basic humanitarian principle to round up those who have sought help out of desperation, but it does grave damage to the larger public health and safety." The tactic also seems at odds with President Bush’s immigration goals.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

9 Comments

  1. Joe Williams
    Posted October 25, 2005 at 8:40 am | Permalink

    So if the government finds people who have warrents for their arrest, America’s Most Wanted people, and finds illegal activity, they shouldn’t arrest them because of the humanitarian efforts that they are providing?

    You cannot excuse criminal activity under any circumstances. And being undocumented in the United States is against the law.

  2. dr
    Posted October 25, 2005 at 8:43 am | Permalink

    Hey, here is a humanitarian principle. Evict the illegals sucking undeserved resources away from the citizens who actually paid taxes and will pay taxes to recieve it!

    As much as response could have been better here, I am sure that the mexicans affected by Wilma are wishing for a fema trailer to live in.

  3. R.D.Liebst
    Posted October 25, 2005 at 9:59 am | Permalink

    Illegal is illegal, it is the duty they are sworn to enforce the laws. Where ever it is, if the illegals do not like it go home.

  4. TRACY
    Posted October 25, 2005 at 10:40 am | Permalink

    I’m listening to a report about this now. It’s another fiasco created by Bush legislation.When the gov’t. decided to forego yhe prevailing wage, illegals started coming in by the truckload.With no place to live, they started posing as displaced residents. The residents were fired and the illegals hired for half the price. Bush & friends want it both ways?

  5. Joe Blow
    Posted October 25, 2005 at 3:04 pm | Permalink

    Rhonda might have included Janet Murgia, former Clinton administration official, in her description, but maybe that would have been too much information and destroy the slant of the story.Sigh. This is like shooting fish in a barrel.

  6. Ian Santiago
    Posted October 25, 2005 at 7:03 pm | Permalink

    Illegals and other non-citizens are not protected by the same Constitutional rights as we are. As such, they should all be deported with no regard to any legalities!

  7. JUSTA GUY
    Posted October 26, 2005 at 6:15 am | Permalink

    Has anyone checked her green card lately? lol

  8. TRACY
    Posted October 26, 2005 at 2:55 pm | Permalink

    Deporting them is a legal act.You’re an idiot.

  9. justoneman
    Posted November 1, 2005 at 8:24 pm | Permalink

    Box them up and send them home. They are here illegally, as in breaking our laws, and should not be entitled to any aid whatsoever. Nothing, zip, nada….They knew the risks involved when they snuck across our borders.