With at least 215 lives claimed, hurricane Helene has become the deadliest hurricane to hit mainland U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Despite accusations from Republicans, different agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have been providing relief.
However, as many of those affected are undocumented immigrants, a question has been popping up constantly in the last few days: can Homeland Security agents check the status of a person's citizenship while helping with relief efforts?
The answer is no, according toAdvocacy group Carolina Migrant Network which has been helping with recovery efforts in North Carolina. In a recent post on their Instagram account, the organization said that neither ICE nor CBP should be doing immigration enforcement and that "no one should be turned away from help based on their immigration status."
The information coincides with a recent statement by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on safety and enforcement during hurricane Helene, in which authorities clarified that immigration enforcement will not interfere with disaster relief efforts:
"In such circumstances, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) remind the public that sites that provide emergency response and relief are considered protected areas. To the fullest extent possible, ICE and CBP do not conduct immigration enforcement activities at protected areas such as along evacuation routes, sites used for sheltering or the distribution of emergency supplies, food or water, or registration sites for disaster-related assistance or the reunification of families and loved ones."
Stefania Arteaga, co-director of the Carolina Migrant Network, expressed to WCNC that Carolina Migrant Network is offering immigrants assistance as they have the right to submit a civil rights complaint if they deem it necessary:
"We understand that community members may feel fearful of what that might mean, whether it's real or perceived fear, of being detained by immigration officials or being restricted from having access to resources or aid."
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