Illegal immigrants face uncertainty during hurricane evacuations

SAN JUAN — Federal and state law could make it difficult for illegal immigrants to evacuate during a hurricane, said local nonprofit and community leaders during a public meeting Friday.

They gathered at the headquarters of La Union del Pueblo Entero — an immigrant advocacy group based in San Juan — to answer residents’ questions about U.S. Customs and Border Protection policy during hurricanes.

The U.S. Border Patrol has stated it will continue operating its checkpoints in the event of a storm, including the Sarita and Falfurrias checkpoints located on U.S 77 and U.S. 281, respectively. U.S. 281 is a designated hurricane evacuation route.

“An evacuation doesn’t preclude us from doing our job,” said John Lopez, local spokesman for the agency.

But activists fear such inspections would encourage the Rio Grande Valley’s estimated 150,000 illegal immigrants to ride out a hurricane in their homes to avoid deportation. Many live in unincorporated colonias — areas that are particularly vulnerable to heavy storms due to the lack of adequate infrastructure.

In addition, a new state law -- which goes into effect Sept. 1 -- makes it illegal to stay at home during a mandatory evacuation order. County judges and city mayors will have the authority to arrest people who refuse to comply with orders to leave houses in danger’s way.

“It’s a Catch-22 situation of sorts,” said Corinna Spencer-Scheurich, an attorney with the South Texas Civil Rights Project. “If people try to leave they can be deported. But if they stay, they can be arrested and deported.”

Border Patrol inspections could create a traffic bottleneck, Scheurich continued. Lines could become long at checkpoints once the Valley’s illegal immigrants have no choice but to leave their homes.

“People will take risks,” Scheurich said. “It could end in a Hurricane Katrina-type situation.”

Lopez said Friday that the Border Patrol would have extra personnel on hand to conduct inspections in a speedy manner and will not prescreen people’s nationality at evacuation points.

All illegal immigrants arrested at inspection checkpoints will be removed to a safe location before any deportation action is taken, he said.

Sheurich is unconvinced.

“The important thing for Border Patrol is to get away from exits and shelters,” she said. “This is about human life, not law enforcement.”

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Spence Kimball covers general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956)683-4423.