[Happy2BMe]

Immigration and Katrina - ping.

(What was illegal has now become legal in one swift stroke of the pen.)

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Employers won't be fined for hiring victims of Hurricane Katrina who lost their documentation, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

[DumpsterDiver]

September 4, 2005 - Conroe City [TX] Councilman Jay Ross Martin encouraged those [evacuees] seeking temporary work to go to the day labor site... They probably have a better chance now because a lot of the normal workforce [illegal aliens] has been picked up to do cleanup efforts in the affected areas ]the gulf coast], Martin said.

September 5, 2005 - President Fox said his country shared the pain of the hurricane. An estimated 140,000 Mexicans were affected, he said, and 70,000 are unaccounted for. But now, he said, the contributions of Mexican workers could be more important than ever. "The reconstruction of that city and of that region is going to require a lot of labor. And if there is anything Mexicans are good at, it is construction."

[lowbuck]

Also from the article: "Immigration officials insist the government will still go after employers who hire illegal workers while the policy is in effect, according to a spokesperson."

While I am sure that some of the illegals living in FL, AL, MS etc will use this to their advantage I think that for the people of the Gulf Coast and NO this is a bit of common sense.

First, most of the displaced are slightly darker than the average person from south of the border or they speak with a very distinctive accent. Many of these folks fled the storm or have been moved. Other than the ID in their wallet/purse getting additional proof may be difficult or impossible.

For the displaced folks trying to get going again lets get out of the way. Later we can try and get the ones (including employers) who took advantage of the system.

Just my two cents.