<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang=en prefix="og: http://ogp.me/ns#"> <head> <meta charset=utf-8> <meta name=viewport content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1"> <meta name=referrer content=unsafe-url> <meta name=theme-color content=#85BAFF> <meta name=twitter:site content=@bustle> <meta name=twitter:app:id:iphone content=791604919> <meta name=apple-itunes-app content="app-id=791604919,affiliate-data=at=10ltPT&ct=safari-app-banner&pt=34461802"> <meta property=fb:app_id content=132694503601208> <meta property=og:site_name content=Bustle> <meta property=article:publisher content=https://www.facebook.com/bustledotcom> <link rel=preconnect href=https://cdn.bustle.com crossorigin> <link rel=preconnect href=https://graph.bustle.com crossorigin> <link rel=preconnect href=https://imgix.bustle.com crossorigin> <link as="script" rel="preload" href="https://cdn.bustle.com/bustle/production/assets/main-729e34f5b579.js"><link as="script" rel="preload" href="https://cdn.bustle.com/bustle/production/assets/PostPage-0ee8b9fd31e7.js"><link as="style" rel="preload" href="https://cdn.bustle.com/bustle/production/assets/main-52d3d4007057.css"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href=https://cdn.bustle.com/bustle/production/public/favicon-9dff06.ico type=image/x-icon> <link rel=apple-touch-icon href=https://cdn.bustle.com/bustle/production/public/icon-c485b4.png> <link rel=manifest href=https://cdn.bustle.com/bustle/production/public/manifest-ee4232.json> <link rel=publisher href=https://plus.google.com/+bustledotcom> <link rel=alternate type=application/rss+xml href=/rss> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.bustle.com/bustle/production/assets/main-52d3d4007057.css"> <title>How's Hurricane Harvey Affecting Immigrants In Texas? Fear Of Deportation Could Cost Lives</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://www.bustle.com/p/hows-hurricane-harvey-affecting-immigrants-in-texas-fear-of-deportation-could-cost-lives-79353" /><link rel="amphtml" href="https://www.bustle.com/p/hows-hurricane-harvey-affecting-immigrants-in-texas-fear-of-deportation-could-cost-lives-79353/amp" /><meta name="description" content="As Hurricane Harvey continues to devastate communities across Southeast Texas, many of the state's most vulnerable populations remain directly in its path, and unfortunately most at-risk of suffering from its flooding and devastation. For example, Teâ¦" /><meta name="author" content="Samantha Mendoza" /><meta property="og:type" content="article" /><meta property="og:title" content="Challenges Immigrants In Texas Are Facing After Hurricane Harvey Are Unimaginable" /><meta property="og:description" content="As Hurricane Harvey continues to devastate communities across Southeast Texas, many of the state's most vulnerable populations remain directly in its path, and unfortunately most at-risk of suffering from its flooding and devastation. For example, Teâ¦" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/6d9c5f22-ea2d-4837-9293-e50c7d675668-getty-839967898.jpg?w=1200&amp;h=630&amp;auto=format&amp;q=70&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces" /><meta property="og:image:width" content="1200" /><meta property="og:image:height" content="630" /><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /><meta name="twitter:creator" content="@samantharaaeee" /><script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Bustle","url":"https://www.bustle.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://imgix.bustle.com/2017/2/9/0fc81178-9619-4a5f-b350-24dc21453047.png","width":195,"height":60}},"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.bustle.com/p/hows-hurricane-harvey-affecting-immigrants-in-texas-fear-of-deportation-could-cost-lives-79353"},"headline":"How's Hurricane Harvey Affecting Immigrants In Texas? Fear Of Deportation Could Cost Lives","description":"As Hurricane Harvey continues to devastate communities across Southeast Texas, many of the state's most vulnerable populations remain directly in its path, and unfortunately most at-risk of suffering from its flooding and devastation. For example, Teâ¦","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/6d9c5f22-ea2d-4837-9293-e50c7d675668-getty-839967898.jpg?w=1200&h=900&auto=format&q=70&fit=crop&crop=faces","width":1200,"height":900},"datePublished":"2017-08-28T04:24:41.102Z","dateModified":"2017-12-22T17:11:09.893Z","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Samantha Mendoza"}}</script> </head> <body> <div><header class="p"><div class="B"><div class="C"><label for="navCheckbox" class="t"><span></span></label><a href="/" title="Bustle"><i class="s"></i></a><div class="E"><a class="u" href="https://www.facebook.com/bustledotcom/" title="Facebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="v"></i></a><a class="u" href="https://twitter.com/bustle" title="Twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="w"></i></a><a class="u" href="https://www.pinterest.com/bustledotcom/" title="Pinterest" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="x"></i></a><a class="u" href="https://www.instagram.com/bustle/" title="Instagram" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="y"></i></a><a class="u" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/bustle/id1019829583?mt=2" title="Podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="z"></i></a><button title="Search" class="A"></button></div></div></div></header><div><div class="ai"><div class="cP"><div id="ad-unit_285" data-cb-ad-id="/49944529/bustle/article/universal/1"></div></div><article><div class="fw"><div class="cP"><div id="ad-unit_286" data-cb-ad-id="/49944529/bustle/article/universal/1"></div></div><div class="fx"><h1 class="fC">How's Hurricane Harvey Affecting Immigrants In Texas? Fear Of Deportation Could Cost Lives</h1></div><div class="fE"><div class="jX fF"><noscript><img src="https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/6d9c5f22-ea2d-4837-9293-e50c7d675668-getty-839967898.jpg?w=740&h=444&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=70" srcset="https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/6d9c5f22-ea2d-4837-9293-e50c7d675668-getty-839967898.jpg?w=375&h=225&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=70 375w, https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/6d9c5f22-ea2d-4837-9293-e50c7d675668-getty-839967898.jpg?w=375&h=225&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=70&dpr=2 750w, https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/6d9c5f22-ea2d-4837-9293-e50c7d675668-getty-839967898.jpg?w=740&h=444&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=70 740w, https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/6d9c5f22-ea2d-4837-9293-e50c7d675668-getty-839967898.jpg?w=740&h=444&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=70&dpr=2 1480w" sizes="(min-width:768px) 740px, 375px" alt/></noscript><img src="https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/6d9c5f22-ea2d-4837-9293-e50c7d675668-getty-839967898.jpg?w=740&amp;h=444&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces&amp;auto=format&amp;q=70" srcSet="https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/6d9c5f22-ea2d-4837-9293-e50c7d675668-getty-839967898.jpg?w=375&amp;h=225&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces&amp;auto=format&amp;q=70 375w, https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/6d9c5f22-ea2d-4837-9293-e50c7d675668-getty-839967898.jpg?w=375&amp;h=225&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces&amp;auto=format&amp;q=70&amp;dpr=2 750w, https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/6d9c5f22-ea2d-4837-9293-e50c7d675668-getty-839967898.jpg?w=740&amp;h=444&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces&amp;auto=format&amp;q=70 740w, https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/6d9c5f22-ea2d-4837-9293-e50c7d675668-getty-839967898.jpg?w=740&amp;h=444&amp;fit=crop&amp;crop=faces&amp;auto=format&amp;q=70&amp;dpr=2 1480w" sizes="(min-width:768px) 740px, 375px" alt /></div><cite class="nn fG"><a href target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images</a></cite></div></div><div class="fH"><div class="fL"><div class="fM"><span class="fO">By</span><a href="/profile/samantha-mendoza-1910199" class="fP" rel="author">Samantha Mendoza</a></div><time dateTime="2017-08-28T04:24:41.102Z" class="fN">Aug 28 2017</time></div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bustle.com%2Fp%2Fhows-hurricane-harvey-affecting-immigrants-in-texas-fear-of-deportation-could-cost-lives-79353%3Futm_term%3Dshare" title="Share" class="fK no" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="np"></i>Share</a></div><div class="fI"><div class="hp fJ"><p>As Hurricane Harvey continues to devastate communities across Southeast Texas, many of the state's most vulnerable populations remain directly in its path, and unfortunately most at-risk of suffering from its flooding and devastation. For example, <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2017/08/24/border-patrol-texas-checkpoints-remain-open-hurricane-harvey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Texas immigrants in the path of Hurricane Harvey</a> face many additional challenges as they attempt to evacuate, like fear of being discovered by immigration authorities while fleeing affected areas. </p><p>The U.S. Border patrol announced Friday that despite the impending storm, roadside immigration checkpoints in Texas, which check individualsâ documents to make sure they are legal residents of the United States, will still remain open throughout the weekend "unless there is a danger" to border patrol agents in the area. </p><p>"The Border Patrol is a law enforcement agency and we will not abandon our law enforcement duties," the agency said<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2017/08/24/border-patrol-texas-checkpoints-remain-open-hurricane-harvey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> in a statement</a> obtained by The Texas Tribune. </p><p>This move has since been criticized by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, which stated that immigration authorities are putting public policy ahead of human safety. Many local advocates believe that keeping immigration checkpoints open despite the unprecedented rainfall could deter immigrants from finding safety and leaving flooded areas. </p><p>According to the Daily Beast,<a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/fearing-trump-administration-crackdown-immigrants-may-stay-in-hurricane-zone?source=twitter&amp;via=desktop" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> these checkpoints were closed</a> when hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast in previous years, making undocumented immigrants feel less fearful of being deported or detained while finding shelter. </p><div class="hA"><div class="hx"><div class="hC" style="padding-top:30%"></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/ACLU/status/901100286298730496"></a></blockquote><script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async></script></div></div><p>It has not yet been reported if this decision has led to the detention of any undocumented immigrants, but local officials have taken other measures to ensure that these individuals can stay safe. </p><p>In a press conference on Sunday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that people<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/2017/live-updates/weather/hurricane-harvey-updates-preparation-evacuations-forecast-storm-latest/texas-governor-says-undocumented-immigrants-wont-need-to-show-id-to-access-shelters/?utm_term=.7ce5bc5c4435" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> attempting to access shelters</a> during the storm would not be asked to present their IDs before entering. </p><p>âThat will not be an issue,â Abbott said during an interview on MSNBC. âWhat everyone is focused on right now is doing all we can to protect life.â Federal immigration authorities also announced that no "routine non-criminal immigration enforcement operations will not be conducted at evacuation sites, or assistance centers such as shelters or food banks."</p><div class="hA"><div class="hx"><div class="hC" style="padding-top:30%"></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/aurabogado/status/901195693603274752"></a></blockquote><script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async></script></div></div><p>Despite this precaution, undocumented immigrants in the region have faced a number of other challenges since the storm began. According to a Buzzfeed News report, <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/adolfoflores/ice-left-50-immigrants-stranded-during-hurricane?utm_term=.nfzyY55r51#.ouNgxRRJRV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">50 newly-arrived Texas immigrant </a>women and children were placed directly in the path of the storm as a result of the actions of federal immigration authorities.</p><p>On Friday, just as Hurricane Harvey was about to make landfall, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials reportedly left these predominantly Central American asylum-seekers stranded at a San Antonio Greyhound bus station after bus services were cancelled because of the impending storm. This reportedly happened even though Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett told officials the day prior not to drop families off. </p><p>"Knowing that, they just dropped them off," a local community advocate told Buzzfeed. "These are women and children who have been released from family detention with no money, cell phones, and donât speak English."</p><figure class="hv"><div class="hw" style="padding-top:67.2667%"><div class="jX"><noscript><img src="https://imgix.bustle.com/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/48d6385a-295a-423c-bd48-a7080f4f6c72-getty-839971208.jpg?w=614&fit=max&auto=format&q=70" srcset="https://imgix.bustle.com/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/48d6385a-295a-423c-bd48-a7080f4f6c72-getty-839971208.jpg?w=349&h=234.7607&fit=max&auto=format&q=70 349w, https://imgix.bustle.com/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/48d6385a-295a-423c-bd48-a7080f4f6c72-getty-839971208.jpg?w=349&h=234.7607&fit=max&auto=format&q=70&dpr=2 698w, https://imgix.bustle.com/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/48d6385a-295a-423c-bd48-a7080f4f6c72-getty-839971208.jpg?w=614&fit=max&auto=format&q=70 614w, https://imgix.bustle.com/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/48d6385a-295a-423c-bd48-a7080f4f6c72-getty-839971208.jpg?w=614&fit=max&auto=format&q=70&dpr=2 1228w" sizes="(min-width:768px) 614px, 349px" alt/></noscript><img alt /></div></div><cite class="hq">Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images</cite></figure><p>The families <a href="https://therivardreport.com/stranded-immigrants-find-shelter-from-hurricane-harvey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">were given shelter</a> by a local church until bus services resumed later that evening. ICE responded to the allegations in a statement on Sunday, stating that all of the immigrants left at the bus station "had confirmed tickets and itineraries to their destinations," and remained in "close contact" with ICE officials. </p><p>Undocumented immigrants face a number of additional challenges as they seek safety in the wake of this unprecedented natural disaster. Given that the storm has only just begun, and an estimated 25 inches of rain are expected to fall in the next few days, it's important that the safety and dignity of this vulnerable population is recognized, respected, and allowed to safely evacuate flooded areas as the storm continues. </p></div></div></article></div></div><div class="L"><input id="navCheckbox" type="checkbox" class="O" /><label for="navCheckbox" class="M"></label><nav class="N"><label for="navCheckbox" class="ac"><span></span></label><div class="P"><i class="Q"></i></div><div class="R"><a href="/" class="S">Homepage</a><a href="/career-inspo" class="S">career inspo</a><a href="/news" class="S">News</a><a href="/entertainment" class="S">Entertainment</a><a href="/beauty" class="S">Beauty</a><a href="/fashion" class="S">Fashion</a><a href="/lifestyle" class="S">Lifestyle</a><a href="/flowcharts" class="S">Flowcharts</a><a href="/books" class="S">Books</a><a href="/tech" class="S">Tech</a><a href="/food" class="S">Food</a><a href="/features" class="S">Features</a></div><div class="T"><a href="https://bustle.company/" class="U">Company</a><a href="/about" class="U">About Us</a><a href="/advertise" class="U">Advertise</a><a href="/apps" class="U">Apps</a><a href="/labs" class="U">Labs</a><a href="/tos" class="U">Terms</a><a href="/privacy" class="U">Privacy</a><a href="/dmca" class="U">DMCA</a><a href="/contact" class="U">Contact Us</a></div><div class="V"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bustledotcom/" title="Facebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="W"></i></a><a href="https://twitter.com/bustle" title="Twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="X"></i></a><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/bustledotcom/" title="Pinterest" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="Y"></i></a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/bustle/" title="Instagram" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="Z"></i></a><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/bustle/id1019829583?mt=2" title="Podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="_"></i></a></div><div class="aa"><span class="ab">Â®</span> 2018 Bustle</div></nav></div></div> <script>__INITIAL_STATE__ = {"id":"79353","type":"ARTICLE","title":"How's Hurricane Harvey Affecting Immigrants In Texas? Fear Of Deportation Could Cost Lives","clipTitle":"Challenges Immigrants In Texas Are Facing After Hurricane Harvey Are Unimaginable","path":"/p/hows-hurricane-harvey-affecting-immigrants-in-texas-fear-of-deportation-could-cost-lives-79353","url":"https://www.bustle.com/p/hows-hurricane-harvey-affecting-immigrants-in-texas-fear-of-deportation-could-cost-lives-79353","rating":"NSFA","publishedAt":1503894281102,"updatedAt":1513962669893,"bodies":[{"version":"0.3.1","atoms":[],"cards":[["embed-card",{"type":"tweet","key":"uploads/image/2017/8/28/9ff9877d-238c-4f06-9bf5-7f43d44200e2-mvsnn3cf_400x400.jpg","attribution_url":"https://twitter.com/ACLU/status/901100286298730496","attribution":"ACLU National on Twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/ACLU/status/901100286298730496","provider_name":"Twitter","width":400,"height":400,"html":"\u003cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"\u003e\u003cp lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eð¨ Texas is refusing to close Customs and Border Patrol checkpoints during \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/HurricaneHarvey?src=hash\"\u003e#HurricaneHarvey\u003c/a\u003e, putting undocumented families in grave danger.\u003c/p\u003e\u0026mdash; ACLU National (@ACLU) \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/ACLU/status/901100286298730496\"\u003eAugust 25, 2017\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cscript async src=\"//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c/script\u003e","ratio":1,"__hash__":1631469376,"_v":1}],["embed-card",{"type":"tweet","key":"uploads/image/2017/8/28/b419fc17-e294-48a1-95e6-80bb84b31a79-tjixuult_400x400.jpg","attribution_url":"https://twitter.com/aurabogado/status/901195693603274752","attribution":"Aura Bogado on Twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/aurabogado/status/901195693603274752","provider_name":"Twitter","width":400,"height":400,"html":"\u003cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"\u003e\u003cp lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eImmigrants are trapped because of internal checkpoints in Texas. \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Harvey2017?src=hash\"\u003e#Harvey2017\u003c/a\u003e is a climate justice story. It just needs someone to tell it.\u003c/p\u003e\u0026mdash; Aura Bogado (@aurabogado) \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/aurabogado/status/901195693603274752\"\u003eAugust 25, 2017\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cscript async src=\"//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c/script\u003e","ratio":1,"__hash__":374792246,"_v":1}],["image-card",{"type":"photo","id":"2253904","key":"uploads/getty/2017/8/28/48d6385a-295a-423c-bd48-a7080f4f6c72-getty-839971208.jpg","source":"","attribution_url":"","attribution":"Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images","url":"https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/48d6385a-295a-423c-bd48-a7080f4f6c72-getty-839971208.jpg","width":3000,"height":2018,"orientation":"LANDSCAPE"}]],"markups":[["a",["href","https://www.texastribune.org/2017/08/24/border-patrol-texas-checkpoints-remain-open-hurricane-harvey/"]],["a",["href","http://www.thedailybeast.com/fearing-trump-administration-crackdown-immigrants-may-stay-in-hurricane-zone?source=twitter\u0026via=desktop"]],["a",["href","https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/2017/live-updates/weather/hurricane-harvey-updates-preparation-evacuations-forecast-storm-latest/texas-governor-says-undocumented-immigrants-wont-need-to-show-id-to-access-shelters/?utm_term=.7ce5bc5c4435"]],["a",["href","https://www.buzzfeed.com/adolfoflores/ice-left-50-immigrants-stranded-during-hurricane?utm_term=.nfzyY55r51#.ouNgxRRJRV"]],["a",["href","https://therivardreport.com/stranded-immigrants-find-shelter-from-hurricane-harvey/"]]],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"As Hurricane Harvey continues to devastate communities across Southeast Texas, many of the state's most vulnerable populations remain directly in its path, and unfortunately most at-risk of suffering from its flooding and devastation. For example, "],[0,[0],1,"Texas immigrants in the path of Hurricane Harvey"],[0,[],0," face many additional challenges as they attempt to evacuate, like fear of being discovered by immigration authorities while fleeing affected areas. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The U.S. Border patrol announced Friday that despite the impending storm, roadside immigration checkpoints in Texas, which check individualsâ documents to make sure they are legal residents of the United States, will still remain open throughout the weekend \"unless there is a danger\" to border patrol agents in the area. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\"The Border Patrol is a law enforcement agency and we will not abandon our law enforcement duties,\" the agency said"],[0,[0],1," in a statement"],[0,[],0," obtained by The Texas Tribune. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"This move has since been criticized by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, which stated that immigration authorities are putting public policy ahead of human safety. Many local advocates believe that keeping immigration checkpoints open despite the unprecedented rainfall could deter immigrants from finding safety and leaving flooded areas. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"According to the Daily Beast,"],[0,[1],1," these checkpoints were closed"],[0,[],0," when hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast in previous years, making undocumented immigrants feel less fearful of being deported or detained while finding shelter. "]]],[10,0],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"It has not yet been reported if this decision has led to the detention of any undocumented immigrants, but local officials have taken other measures to ensure that these individuals can stay safe. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"In a press conference on Sunday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that people"],[0,[2],1," attempting to access shelters"],[0,[],0," during the storm would not be asked to present their IDs before entering. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"âThat will not be an issue,â Abbott said during an interview on MSNBC. âWhat everyone is focused on right now is doing all we can to protect life.â Federal immigration authorities also announced that no \"routine non-criminal immigration enforcement operations will not be conducted at evacuation sites, or assistance centers such as shelters or food banks.\""]]],[10,1],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Despite this precaution, undocumented immigrants in the region have faced a number of other challenges since the storm began. According to a Buzzfeed News report, "],[0,[3],1,"50 newly-arrived Texas immigrant "],[0,[],0,"women and children were placed directly in the path of the storm as a result of the actions of federal immigration authorities."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"On Friday, just as Hurricane Harvey was about to make landfall, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials reportedly left these predominantly Central American asylum-seekers stranded at a San Antonio Greyhound bus station after bus services were cancelled because of the impending storm. This reportedly happened even though Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett told officials the day prior not to drop families off. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\"Knowing that, they just dropped them off,\" a local community advocate told Buzzfeed. \"These are women and children who have been released from family detention with no money, cell phones, and donât speak English.\""]]],[10,2],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The families "],[0,[4],1,"were given shelter"],[0,[],0," by a local church until bus services resumed later that evening. ICE responded to the allegations in a statement on Sunday, stating that all of the immigrants left at the bus station \"had confirmed tickets and itineraries to their destinations,\" and remained in \"close contact\" with ICE officials. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Undocumented immigrants face a number of additional challenges as they seek safety in the wake of this unprecedented natural disaster. Given that the storm has only just begun, and an estimated 25 inches of rain are expected to fall in the next few days, it's important that the safety and dignity of this vulnerable population is recognized, respected, and allowed to safely evacuate flooded areas as the storm continues. "]]]]}],"summary":"As Hurricane Harvey continues to devastate communities across Southeast Texas, many of the state's most vulnerable populations remain directly in its path, and unfortunately most at-risk of suffering from its flooding and devastation. For example, Teâ¦","nofollow":false,"amp":true,"primaryMedia":{"url":"https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/uploads/getty/2017/8/28/6d9c5f22-ea2d-4837-9293-e50c7d675668-getty-839967898.jpg","attribution":"Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images","attributionUrl":"","caption":""},"author":{"name":"Samantha Mendoza","path":"/profile/samantha-mendoza-1910199","twitter":"samantharaaeee","primaryMedia":{"url":"https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/lovelace/uploads/mgmt/2017/6/26/9e47073a-540c-4712-b6fb-4511f076bc05-img_4348.jpg"}},"designer":null,"tags":[{"slug":"news"}],"iabCategories":{"edges":[{"node":{"iabId":"IAB11-1"}},{"node":{"iabId":"IAB15-10"}},{"node":{"iabId":"IAB6"}}]},"watsonCategories":{"edges":[{"node":{"dfpName":"immigration"}},{"node":{"dfpName":"hurricane"}},{"node":{"dfpName":"family and parenting"}}]},"tagSlugs":["news"],"primaryCategory":"news","watsonCategoryNames":["immigration","hurricane","family and parenting"],"iabCategoryIds":["IAB11-1","IAB15-10","IAB6"],"navigation":[{"title":"career inspo","page":{"path":"/career-inspo"}},{"title":"News","page":{"path":"/news"}},{"title":"Entertainment","page":{"path":"/entertainment"}},{"title":"Beauty","page":{"path":"/beauty"}},{"title":"Fashion","page":{"path":"/fashion"}},{"title":"Lifestyle","page":{"path":"/lifestyle"}},{"title":"Flowcharts","page":{"path":"/flowcharts"}},{"title":"Books","page":{"path":"/books"}},{"title":"Tech","page":{"path":"/tech"}},{"title":"Food","page":{"path":"/food"}},{"title":"Features","page":{"path":"/features"}}],"__hash__":-1632680257}</script> <script>!function(){var e="https:"===document.location.protocol;function t(e){var t=document,c=t.createElement("script");c.src=e,c.async=!0,t.body.appendChild(c)}c=window,s=document,a=void 0,o=void 0,c.GoogleAnalyticsObject="ga",c.ga=c.ga||function(){(c.ga.q=c.ga.q||[]).push(arguments)},c.ga.l=1*new Date,a=s.createElement("script"),o=s.getElementsByTagName("script")[0],a.async=1,a.src="https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js",o.parentNode.insertBefore(a,o);var c,s,a,o;ga("create","UA-40141401-1","auto"),ga("require","displayfeatures"),n=window,r=document,i=void 0,p=void 0,d=void 0,n.fbq||(i=n.fbq=function(){i.callMethod?i.callMethod.apply(i,arguments):i.queue.push(arguments)},n._fbq||(n._fbq=i),i.push=i,i.loaded=!0,i.version="2.0",i.queue=[],(p=r.createElement("script")).async=!0,p.src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js",(d=r.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]).parentNode.insertBefore(p,d));var n,r,i,p,d;fbq("init","1636673763227734"),window._comscore=[{c1:"2",c2:"17519299"}],t((e?"https://sb":"http://b")+".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js"),t((e?"https://sb":"http://b")+".scorecardresearch.com/rs/pt/gg.js"),window.ezt=[{qacct:"p-xPmcrFNGfHkBg",uid:""}],t((e?"https://secure":"http://pixel")+".quantserve.com/aquant.js?a=p-xPmcrFNGfHkBg"),window._sf_async_config={uid:50134,useCanonical:!0,domain:"bustle.com"},t("https://static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat.js"),t("https://js-sec.indexww.com/ht/p/184341-217008899873225.js"),function(){for(var e=["Promise","fetch","Map","requestAnimationFrame","Object.assign"],t=e.length,c=[],s=0;s<t;s++){var a=e[s],o=a.split("."),n=window[o[0]];(!n||o.length>1&&!n[o[1]])&&c.push(a)}var r=c.join();r&&document.write('<script defer src="https://cdn.polyfill.io/v2/polyfill.min.js?features='+r+'"><\/script>')}()}()</script> <script defer src="https://cdn.bustle.com/bustle/production/assets/main-729e34f5b579.js"></script><script defer src="https://cdn.bustle.com/bustle/production/assets/PostPage-0ee8b9fd31e7.js"></script> <noscript style=display:none> <img src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1636673763227734&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/> <img src="http://b.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=17519299&cv=2.0&cj=1"/> <img src=//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-xPmcrFNGfHkBg.gif /> </noscript> </body> </html> 