By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
Aware that some undocumented immigrants want call for help from flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he would help any immigrant who faces deportation as a result of requesting assistance.
“There is absolutely no reason” why anyone shouldn’t call for help, Turner said at a press conference, The Hill reports.
“I and others will be the first ones to stand up with you,” said Turner. “If you need help and someone comes and they require help, and then for some reason, then somebody tries to deport them, I will represent them myself, okay?”
Turner encouraged immigrants to call for help if they need it.
“If you are in a stressful situation, I don’t care who you are, I don’t care what you’re religion is, I don’t care what your language is, you come and take advantage of every service that we have,” he said.
“If you’re in a stressful situation and you need help, you call us for help. We want you to call. There is absolutely no reason why anyone should not call okay?”
U.S. Custom and Border Protection and ICE said its “highest priorities” will be saving lives.
“Routine noncriminal immigration enforcement operations will not be conducted at evacuation sites, or assistance centers such as shelters or food banks,” the agencies said. “The laws will not be suspended, and we will be vigilant against any effort by criminals to exploit disruptions caused by the storm.”
