Each year, thousands of immigrant workers travel hundreds of miles to clear debris and rebuild after hurricanes. But fear of immigration enforcement is keeping many from responding to Hurricane Isaias in Florida’s Panhandle, where losses could exceed $1 billion. Immigration arrests in Florida surged to over 230 daily in July, fueled by local agencies deputized for federal enforcement.
Santos Alvarado, a disaster veteran who worked over 20 hurricanes since Katrina, said the brutality of ICE actions scares workers despite their need to earn a living. A standoff in Pensacola Beach, where workers were ordered down by men claiming to be police, intensified fears across the network. Saket Soni of Resilience Force reported an 18-person crew canceled its trip after hearing of the incident and federal agents at local stores.
Alvarado, a Honduran immigrant with U.S.-born children, feels especially vulnerable after losing Temporary Protected Status. He remains undecided about working the recovery. ICE denied involvement, citing state investigators checking for unlicensed contractors.
Like migrant farmworkers, hurricane laborers follow disasters, often arriving before power returns. Soni said workers are needed to repair everything from luxury waterfront homes to inland mobile homes and businesses. Though the season is predicted below-normal, Pensacola urgently needs hands to rebuild.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing