Disaster aid urged for illegal migrants

Riverside Press-Enterprise ^ | 9/23/05 | Michael Fisher

[NormsRevenge]

Bishop Gerald Barnes, leader of the Diocese of San Bernardino, is urging federal legislators to extend disaster aid to illegal immigrants uprooted by Hurricane Katrina, and not to deport undocumented immigrants who fled the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast.

"Now is the time to serve our common humanity and not discriminate against victims of the disaster because they are not U.S. citizens," Barnes, the chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration, said in a Tuesday letter to federal lawmakers.

"Like U.S. citizens, noncitizens have suffered from the hurricane and its aftermath, having lost their loved ones, their homes, jobs, and possessions. The relief they need is commensurate with the relief needed by U.S. citizens affected by the disaster, but they are in danger of being overlooked," Barnes wrote.

Undocumented and nonimmigrant workers are eligible for noncash, in-kind emergency disaster relief such as food and shelter and emergency medical care, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. But federal rules do not allow illegal immigrants to receive other federal aid unless a member of their family, such as a child, is a citizen, FEMA officials said.

After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the federal government announced that undocumented immigrants could apply for federal aid without fear that their names would be turned over to law enforcement. There are no immediate plans to renew that assurance for hurricane victims, said Joanna Gonzalez, spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security.

"Right now, the priority is to provide immediate assistance to all victims: Food, water, medical care, shelter, crisis counseling, disaster legal services," Gonzalez said.

Barnes' letter comes amid a handful of reports of hurricane evacuees in Texas and elsewhere being taken into custody or ordered to appear at deportation hearings. Lori Haley, a spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Southern California, said no illegal immigrants who are evacuees have been detained in Riverside or San Bernardino counties.

Mark Krikorian, with the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C., argues that illegal immigrants should be eligible for emergency aid only.

"If somebody is on a roof and the water is rising, we are morally obliged to rescue that person. We are not going to ask them for their green card," said Krikorian, whose group backs tighter immigration laws. "When it comes to helping people resettle, to find new jobs, we are morally obliged not to give that kind of assistance to illegal aliens."

Barnes also asked federal lawmakers to give hurricane victims access to food stamps and Medicaid regardless of their immigration status, and that they provide work authorizations for victims without legal status.

[craig_eddy]

So sorry, but they shouldn't have been "rooted" in the first place. Uproot them all the way back to their home country.

[samadams2000]

Cant find that anywhere in the Constitution..Any help me??

[Conspiracy Guy]

California needs to STFU. Illegals need to be sent home! PERIOD.

[Sthitch]

I agree, we should give them some aid for those who decided to visit our country illegally. First start with a nice picture, and then provide them a one way plane ticket to Argentina (takes longer to walk back).

[Smarti Pants]

This is true - we must take care of them and I would never turn help away from anyone, regardless of nationality.

But then I'd go ahead & deport them plus send them a bill for services rendered - if they weren't here illegally in the first place, they never would need to be rescued/help.

Just like they "don't need no steeng-keeng green card", they "don't need no steeng-keeng FEMA card" either.

[cripplecreek]

Give them humanitarian aid as needed then ship them home.

[lady lawyer]

no no no no no no no

[hombre_sincero]

FREE bus ride to Mexico! That should be the extent of aid to ILLEGAL aliens

[marron]

This is stupid. No one checks your green card at a soup line, no one is asking about anyone's immigration status at any homeless shelter, no one is asking to see your papers before handing you a blanket.

It isn't happening and it won't happen.

This is just more empty moral grandstanding by the more-moral-than-you crowd, the ones least likely to be in the trenches helping anyone.

[goldstategop]

We must be compassionate to lawbreakers? What the hell happened to withdrawing the welcome mat for them? We can't afford to take care of the world's unwanted.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[aspiring.hillbilly]

Let the Catholic Church step up and spend their money on these criminals, yes criminals, they broke the law sneaking into the country. To rip off the taxpayers to compensate lawbreakers is a travesty. The Church needs purification from dopes like this...

[MizSterious]

You've gotta be kiddin' me. Just yesterday they were talking about cutting military health benefits (supposedly voluntary, but...) to pay for Katrina damage. Why? So these ILLEGALS can receive aid?

Not only NO, but H*LL no to this obscene plan.

[Cowboy Bob]

Bishop Gerald Barnes, leader of the Diocese of San Bernardino...

Why doesn't the Diocese of San Bernardino kick in some money?

[Zeroisanumber]

I will give them food and water if they need it and emergency medical help should they require it. I will also provide them with a ticket back to where they came from. I will not build them a house, or buy them a car, or give them a green card.

[MizSterious]

Better yet, send them all to Rome. Let the Vatican deal with them.

[NormsRevenge]

You have a right to your opinion,, and when disaster strikes in your area and no one has anything left to assist you and yours... what then?

[beaversmom]

I agree. These illegals should get some relief. Let old humanitarian, compassionate Mr. Fox give it to them.

[RockyMtnMan]

"Now is the time to serve our common humanity and not discriminate against victims of the disaster because they are not U.S. citizens," Barnes, the chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration, said in a Tuesday letter to federal lawmakers.

discriminate

• To perceive the distinguishing features of; recognize as distinct: discriminate right from wrong.
• To distinguish by noting differences; differentiate: unable to discriminate colors.
• To make or constitute a distinction in or between: methods that discriminate science from pseudoscience.

Discrimination is a perfectly acceptable form of behavior in this case. We are "discriminating" between criminals and noncriminals not race/creed/color. Spending relief funds on criminal aliens takes money away from citizens and those who are here by permission.

[Smarti Pants]

You know, you're right!

I haven't seen any helicopter pilot stop anyone to ask "are you a legal US citizen & can you prove it" before bringing anyone up out of those waters.

When the same happens later today & tomorrow, I doubt they'll stop & ask then either.

What planet is that nut-job living on that he couldn't see what we all saw?

After the fact is a different story! In those FEMA lines - THEN, we'll send them home. Why on earth should we spend OUR tax money on illegals skirting the law & blatantly thumbing their noses at us?

[NormsRevenge]

Why doesn't the Diocese of San Bernardino kick in some money?

---

massive settlements to victims for priest abuse?

[afnamvet]

Mark Krikorian, with the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C., argues that illegal immigrants should be eligible for emergency aid only. "If somebody is on a roof and the water is rising, we are morally obliged to rescue that person. We are not going to ask them for their green card," said Krikorian, whose group backs tighter immigration laws. "When it comes to helping people resettle, to find new jobs, we are morally obliged not to give that kind of assistance to illegal aliens."

Emergency aid only. Contact their country of origin to arrange transportation and payment back to their country.

[Travis McGee]

Free one way bus ticket to Mexico.

[Protagoras]

California needs to STFU. Illegals need to be sent home! PERIOD.

[Conspiracy Guy]

LOL. I should have narrowed it to the Bishop rather than ALL of CALIFORNIA. But I like broad brushes.

[Old Professer]

Religious, soft-hearted nutcases are going to be the death of us yet.

[Protagoras]

I love that picture, I post it every time I get the chance.

[alloysteel]

The only "aid" that should be extended to illegal immigrants is to escort them to the border of the country through which they entered, and warn them that terrible storms threaten the United States, and they enter this country again only at great personal risk. Please respect these forces of nature.

Tell them that God is punishing America, and for their own safety, stand well away. They will believe.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Glad I could give you a segway.

[conservativehistorian]

I won't contribute to his annual Bishop's Appeal.

[lilylangtree]

Incarcerate and deport them to their country of origin and they wouldn't need taxpayers aid.

[Protagoras]

Glad I could give you a segway.

No thanks, they look dangerous to me and I can't figure out where I would ride it.

[Conspiracy Guy]

The dumbest vehicle ever made.

[telstar1]

.....let the Mexican Army take 'em out on their trucks when THEY leave......no cost to the taxpayer....

[spectre]

"Not only NO, but H*LL no to this obscene plan."

Ditto. It's insane.

"Rita" should put an even bigger strain on our capabilities to take care of our "own" citizens.

We need to deport the Illegal refugees back to Mexico and let Vincente Fox take care of his own people.

sw

[gubamyster]

ping

[blackie]

Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!

Support our Minutemen Patriots!

Be Ever Vigilant ~ Bump!

[Happy2BMe]

How President Bush handles this request to grant amnesty to illegal aliens during this national crisis will set a far-reaching precedent for immigration reform.

Crucial.

======================================

Bishop Gerald Barnes, leader of the Diocese of San Bernardino, is urging federal legislators to extend disaster aid to illegal immigrants uprooted by Hurricane Katrina, and not to deport undocumented immigrants who fled the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast.

[Happy2BMe]

This is not the first time the Catholic Church has asked for blanket amnesty for illegal aliens . .

* * Mexican official comes under fire at binational conference (Catholics Push For Immigration Reform)

Immigration reform church goal, cardinal says

* * *

[Protagoras]

I actually own this contraption.

[trubluolyguy]

To Bishop Barnes,


F*CK illegal aliens, and f*ck you too.


Sincerely,

trubluolyguy

[A CA Guy]

I think all the churches should offer to fill their halls, and buildings with those illegals if they want to be THAT friendly.

I can see us offering food and water to live as they made it back to the border (at most), but that is just me.

[Das Outsider]

Bishop Gerald Barnes, leader of the Diocese of San Bernardino

And this is a bishop of the real Roman Catholic Church, not some group like the pro-gay Catholic associations?

[Happy2BMe]

See #39.

The Catholic Church in the United States is in concert with the Catholic Church in Mexico to goad this country into merging with Mexico.

[joesnuffy]

Actually their countries of origin should pay
for them...

Especially since Mexico openly promotes illegal invasion.

imo

[brytlea]

Yeah, in fact, these people should sue the Mexican government for encouraging them to come to such a dangerous country!
susie

[Conspiracy Guy]

My father in law has one of those. It is fun to ride. And good exercise

[AMERIKA]

SEMPER FI back to you MAC! Your home page is great. I was stationed at MCAS KANEOHE HAWAII '69 - '72.

Regards,

[Protagoras]

My father in law has one of those. It is fun to ride. And good exercise.

We've had a lot of fun with it but when gas gets to $5 a gallon, I'm going to put a "for sale" sign on it and get all my money back. Nuttin like a little panic so you have a good market to sell into. :^}

[Conspiracy Guy]

Get some solar panels and electrify that puppy.