Resident Non-Citizens May Qualify For Federal Disaster Aid
Release Date: September 28, 2008
Release Number: 1791-055
» More Information on Texas Hurricane Ike
AUSTIN, Texas -- People who are not U.S. citizens but who are in the United States legally may be eligible for disaster aid according to officials from the Texas Governor's Division of Emergency Management (GDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
"We don't want any residents who might be eligible to miss out on valuable disaster assistance that could help them recover from Hurricane Ike," said Federal Coordinating Officer Sandy Coachman. "Texans should apply for assistance and FEMA will determine their eligibility."
Applicants must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals or qualified aliens to receive federal monetary assistance. Their legal status will not be jeopardized by applying for assistance.
Qualified aliens include:
- Individuals with Lawful Permanent Residency (holders of "green cards");
- Those with refugee or asylum status;
- Those whose deportation has been withheld;
- Those on parole in the U.S. for at least one year for humanitarian purposes;
- Those with conditional entry;
- Cuban or Haitian entrants; and
- Those with petitions for relief based on battery or extreme cruelty by a family member.
Non-citizen nationals are people born in an outlying possession of the United States (American Samoa or Swain's Island) on or after the date the U.S. acquired the possession, or a person whose parents are U.S. non-citizen nationals (subject to certain residency requirements).
Assistance can be given as long as someone in a household is entitled to it. No information will be gathered regarding the status of other household members. For example, a parent or guardian who is not eligible for assistance can still apply on behalf of a minor child who is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien. The guardian only certifies for the child; no information will be gathered on the adult's status.
Undocumented immigrants from a household with no one eligible for federal financial assistance may still be eligible for programs run by state, local or voluntary agencies. They may also be eligible for short-term, non-cash aid from FEMA, such as crisis counseling.
Texans with uninsured or underinsured losses and damages as a result of Hurricane Ike who live in the 29 designated counties can register with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. They can also register online at www.fema.gov.
Under the presidential declaration, disaster assistance is available in 29 counties: Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Cherokee, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller and Washington.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Monday, 29-Sep-2008 11:24:22