Posted on 09/21/2008 4:06:24 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
Debate rages on fate of undocumented workers in hurricane-hit areas
HOUSTON - The men gather early on street corners here in storm-battered Houston, ready for the jobs they know will come their way, sweeping up broken glass and clearing downed trees and debris from city streets.
They speak mostly Spanish, while looking warily at strangers. And these undocumented, also called illegal, immigrants worry that instead of a job and a day's wages, they might instead find themselves arrested and deported.
-Snip-
Question of benefits There are more than one million undocumented workers in Texas, with many living in Houston and surrounding areas hit by the hurricane, according to the Border Network.
With drivers' licenses and Social Security numbers as the keys to unlocking government aid, assistance such as emergency food stamps and help with temporary housing are largely unavailable for this population.
"If you are an undocumented worker you are barred from these resources," said Texas Health and Human Services spokeswoman Stephanie Goodman.
-Snip-
"The question of benefits and who can apply after a disaster is a big issue," said The National Council of La Raza spokeswoman Sara Benitez. "That has been a really big issue in the Gulf Coast."
-Snip-
But Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, said U.S. policy needs to tighten down on undocumented immigrants not expand to embrace them. And he said clean up and rebuilding following disasters such as Hurricane Ike can provide good jobs for unemployed Americans if undocumented workers are shunned.
"Just as it was in the aftermath of Katrina, there are an awful lot of American citizens who need the work," said Mehlman. "There are a lot of people hurting in south Texas right now who could probably use the work and the paycheck."
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Its not news, its MSNBC.
“Everyone went to work yesterday,” said Mark Zwick, founder of Casa Juan Diego, an assistance organization that houses, feeds and provides medical care for undocumented immigrants in Houston. “Work had been down, but now there is plenty for them.”
_________________________________
Oh, goody
The socialist media still refuses to call them illegal aliens. It’s too bad Joe Arpaio isn’t sheriff in the Houston region.
Looking to reforms
La Raza, a Washington-based advocacy group for Latinos, plans to release a report next month that examines what it sees as unfair treatment of undocumented workers after U.S. disasters, and recommends changes in U.S. policy that specifically would alter disaster assistance programs to benefit Latinos.
______________________________________
Well, DUH
The paradox is right. People will not turn away workers to restore their homes.
Well, if they're just going to stand around doing nothing all day, the least they can do is grab a broom and give something back to the community for once -- i.e., their worthless time.
The feds seem to be in too much of a generous mood lately to spend OUR hard earned cash.
Such individuals hang out on the street corner a couple blocks from my house. Occasionally I will see some walking through the neighborhood (full of nice, above market avg priced townhomes a couple miles from downtown). I thought loitering was against the law here in HTown. Guess not when it has a Hispanic face. I’m not sure if Houston is a sanctuary city or not, but it’s a bit adsurd. One wonders if HPD is afraid of busting any of these guys for fear of getting some numbnuts agitator and the ACLU on their case.
And this is in Texas, one of the reddest states around.
Naturally, if you shoot one who happens to break into your home, then you’re the criminal (well, according to the media. Thankfully Texas law still views one’s home as their castle).
Some union did protest in the area last year. Didn’t seem to do much good. Kinda ironic to see poor illegal trash hanging out in front of a trendy upscale Tex-Mex joint though.
Terry Anderson at 9-10 PM PST, 10-11 PM MST, 11-12 PM CST, 12-1 AM EST...
http://www.republicbroadcasting.org/index.php?cmd=listenlive
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2087329/posts?page=1
I am tired of the politicians kissing the asses of the slime that are invading the USA.
“worry that instead of a job and a day’s wages, they might instead find themselves arrested and deported. “
Thats a common concern of criminals everywhere.
DUH!!!!!!No payee taxes, no getee freebes! SEND THEM TO WHENCE THEY CAME!
What part of DON'T REWARD CRIMINALS, doesn't PMSNBC get?
Any American who does not receive aid because we ran out giving it to Mexicans first should get a few sue-happy lawyers and shut down this RICO conspiracy.
Illegal aliens were hired instead of Americans in NOLA after Katrina, and also in Southern CA after the fires last year...
In both places the IAs got bennies...
Wow. I’m used to the cutesy discussion of generic “immigration”, to try to lump in legitimate immigrants with those here illegally. But for them to actually specify “also known as illegal” is just a joke.
Calling an illegal alien an “undocumented worker” is like calling a rapist an “undocumented boyfriend”.
Anyone want to ask MSNBC how many rape stories have included the line “the unplanned, also known as illegal, sex partner”?
Debate rages? Throw them out, there’s your debate.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.