Undocumented immigrants have good reason to feat seeking federal assistance, with raids popping up all over the country, even those left in desperate situations in the aftermath of Hurricane Dolly feel safer keeping quiet.

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

Hmmm so are undocumented immigrants expected to trust Homeland Security? Not so fast….

“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.”

But what exactly is need to know? The current actions and rhetoric coming out of Homeland Security certainly sounds like they want to know who is undocumented. After all, they want undocumented people to self-deport!

Some local community organizations are offering to step up to act as buffers between the undocumented communities and FEMA.

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.

Via / Hermana Resist and The Monitor

Image Via / MSNBC