What disaster assistance is available to immigrants affected by Hurricane Katrina? Many different programs offer disaster assistance to "qualified immigrants" including food, rental and mortgage assistance, temporary housing allowances, grants for repairs, short-term cash, small business loans and more. These programs include:

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides: Temporary housing assistance, or rental payments for persons displaced due to Hurricane Katrina. Mortgage and rental assistancefor economic hardship suffered offered to Hurricane Katrina’s victims who may also face eviction or foreclosure. Minimal repair moneyupto $10,000 for homeowners so that they may restore habitability of their homes. Look for FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers in affected areas. 

The Individual and Family Grant Program (IFGP) provides: Money for repairs, replacement of household items, job essentials, medical, dental and funeral costs in the form of grants to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Money for purposes other than medical, dental and funeral for those persons affected by Katrina and not eligible for SBA loans, or for those persons who received an inadequate SBA loan. IFGP is administered through Offices of Emergency Services or similar state agencies.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) provides: Cash to replace income for those who are unemployed due to Hurricane Katrina. DUA is administered through the Department of Labor through state employment agencies.

Food Programs provide: Emergency food stamps and food are provided to meet emergency needs. Food Programs are administered through state social services agencies and similar local organizations as a service provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Small Business Administration (SBA) provides: Low interest loans for repairs to homeowners and renters as well as to large and small business owners.

Which immigrants qualify for these programs? "Qualified" immigrants can apply for any of the benefits described above. These include: lawful permanent residents (green card holders); refugees, asylees, and certain parolees; Cuban/ Haitian entrants; and battered spouses and children pursuing immigration benefits based on that status.

What types of services are non-immigrant workers or undocumented immigrants eligible for? Individuals here on temporary work visas or individuals who lack current immigration status are still eligible for non-cash, in kind emergency disaster relief such as food and shelter, search and rescue and emergency medical care.

If I accept emergency assistance, am I at risk of being considered a "public charge." No. Accepting assistance will not have a negative consequence on your immigration status unless you fraudulently obtain such assistance.

Can employers hire an individual who has no personal documents for I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification? As a result of Hurricane Katrina, many individuals have lost documents required for I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification procedures. For this reason, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on September 6, 2005 that it will refrain from requiring employment verification for the next for 45 days so that employers can hire individuals evacuated or displaced from affected areas, otherwise eligible for employment, but lacking personal documents.

What will happen with all petitions and cases pending at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)? All offices in New Orleans are currently closed. As of September 9, 2005, the USCIS has reported that all files in New Orleans are intact, but it will likely be some weeks before they are accessible. In the meantime, the New Orleans operations office is located in the Memphis, Tennessee Sub-Office and all other USCIS offices will be assisting in providing services and benefits to those affected by Katrina.

Are the records lost from USCIS in New Orleans? The USCIS has announced that their office in New Orleans was not damaged and that it’s records are intact. We have been informed that it will still be several weeks before they can access the records.

How will the Immigration Court in New Orleans be affected? The court is closed until further notice. We have been informed that no action will be taken on any case arising out of hurricane-affected areas until proper procedures are set up.

Have naturalization services been cancelled for USCIS customers from the New Orleans district? Yes, naturalization services in the affected areas have been cancelled until further notice. Those who have pending naturalization and adjustment of status interviews will be contacted as soon as information becomes available.

How can affected USCIS customers replace lost immigration documents? All USCIS offices will assist those affected by Katrina in replacing immigration documents. The USCIS offices will verify identity and immigration status through electronic file data before re-issuing immigration related documents.

What happened to passport applications processed through the New Orleans Passport office? The Department of State announced on September 7, 2005 that all materials in the New Orleans Passport Agency have been collected and transported to another location. These materials include personal documents and applications from individuals applying for passports. The Bureau of Consular Affairs is in the process of mailing postcards to applicants notifying them of the disruptions and possible delays caused by Hurricane Katrina. Anyone with pending passport applications at the New Orleans Passport Office planning to travel in the next six weeks should contact the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778.

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