For Immediate Release: September 12, 2018
Contact: Erin Williams – 202-748-0699 – EWilliams@faithinaction.org
Trump engages in self-admiration for disastrous 2017 Hurricane Maria response as administration takes $10 million from FEMA to pay for more ICE detention beds
WASHINGTON, DC — Faith In Action, an interfaith group that has spent months supporting Puerto Rican victims of Hurricane Maria, which resulted in almost 3,000 deaths as the federal government has turned away or denied adequate relief, condemns President Trump’s claims that his administration’s response to the U.S. territory, was an “incredible unsung success.”
“As one of several organizations that has helped hurricane survivors who were forced to move to the mainland because the federal government abandoned them, how dare President Trump make such an unbelievable claim,” said Denise Collazo, Chief of Staff for Faith In Action.
“The Trump administration was slow to respond to Puerto Rico, and once evacuees arrived on the mainland, the federal government threatened to cut off temporary housing assistance, forcing us to go to court to stop the evictions of nearly 2,000 evacuees,” Collazo added. “His untruthful words add salt to very serious wounds that still have not healed. Indeed, the temporary housing aid is about to expire within days.”
The housing in hotels and motels across the U.S. was provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through its Temporary Shelter Assistance (TSA) program. In June, Faith In Action and its Massachusetts federation, Pioneer Valley Project, accompanied more than 100 individuals and displaced families as they met with elected officials on Capitol Hill, to urge that FEMA activate Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP), which would provide longer-term housing for low-income families following natural disasters.
“The long-term housing assistance was provided following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and superstorm Sandy, but not for Hurricane Maria. The lack of attention shows the deep lack of regard for communities of color,” Collazo said.
“Surely, FEMA cannot claim a lack of funds, since the administration has given almost $10 million of its funding to ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) for more detention bed space. The administration is not only lacking any moral code when it comes to its barbaric detention and deportation machine regarding immigrants, it’s also lacking common sense. As hurricane season intensifies, any money taken away from FEMA is highly questionable. Giving it to ICE for more detention beds is morally reprehensible.”
The discrimination extends beyond hurricane evacuees. Last month, Faith In Florida and LatinoJustice PRDLEF, along with civic engagement groups UnidosUS, Mi Familia Vota Education Fund, Hispanic Federation, Vamos4PR, and individual voter Marta Rivera filed suit against Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner and the Supervisors of Elections of 32 Florida counties to force compliance with the Voting Rights Act requirement that bilingual voting materials and assistance be provided to Puerto Rican-educated, Spanish speaking United States citizens. A federal district court judge ruled last week that Florida officials must comply with the law and provide sample ballots in Spanish.
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Faith in Action, formerly known as PICO National Network, is the largest grassroots, faith-based organizing network in the United States. The nonpartisan organization works with 1,000 religious congregations in more than 200 cities and towns through its 46 local and state federations. For more information visit www.faithinaction.org.
