Recap: NLIHC and Immigrant Rights Organizations Host Webinar on Immigration and Disaster Recovery

On August 12, NLIHC, Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition (PIF), Just Solutions Collective, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), and Texas Appleseed hosted a webinar on immigration issues and disaster recovery entitled, “Immigration & Disaster Recovery: Rights, Access, and Where We Go From Here.” The webinar provided up-to-date information on the impacts of immigration enforcement on immigrant communities impacted by disasters and provided tools and guidance for how to protect immigrant neighbors and ensure their access to assistance after disasters strike.   

Noah Patton, NLIHC Director of Disaster Recovery, catalogued recent changes in the federal government around immigration – specifically the aggressive tactics of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel to arrest and detain immigrants living in communities across the country – and the erosion of disaster response and recovery capabilities at the federal level over the last eight months.  

Maddie Sloan, Director of Disaster Recovery and Fair Housing at Texas Appleseed, presented out on what evolving federal rules around immigration mean for those attempting to access immigration assistance, and what advice to provide to disaster survivors to ensure their safety.  

Marcela Hernández, Deputy Director of Louisiana-based Familias Unidas en Accion, detailed how these changes are playing out in the communities they serve, and how they are preparing for disasters with the danger of immigration enforcement in mind. They also requested capacity and assistance from any organizations willing to work on the subject with them.  

Sadia Rahman, Managing Attorney at the National Homelessness Law Center (NHLC), detailed recent guidance released by NHLC that provides step-by-step strategies for shelter operators to respond to ICE enforcement actions.  

Lastly, Alicia Wilson of PIF and Rich Stolz, Fellow at the Just Solutions Collective, shared multiple resources attendees can use to assist them in protecting their disaster-impacted communities.  

Resources shared during the call as follows:  

• A DHRC and Protecting Immigrant Families one-page flier on immigration issues and disaster assistance
• A DHRC, Just Solutions Collective, TX Appleseed, and NILC Q&A style explainer on disasters and immigration 
• NHLC’s comprehensive guide on ICE and sheltering 
• NILC’s “Know Your Rights” card for immigrant families interacting with law enforcement   
• NILC’s one-stop-shop webpage with immigration and disaster information