July 11, 2019
VIA email: DHSSecretary@hq.dhs.gov
Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528
Re: State of Emergency in the Gulf Coast
Dear Acting Secretary McAleenan:
We write to ask that the Department of Homeland Security enact and widely publicize policies to
protect public safety as the Louisiana and Gulf Coast region prepare for the tropical storm
system that is projected to develop into Hurricane Barry. Specifically, we request that DHS
immediately issue a public statement that it will not conduct immigration enforcement activities
in all areas that have declared a state of emergency, and in areas where residents are evacuating
to, sheltering, and later evacuees will be returning to their homes. This includes at least the entire
Gulf Coast region under the responsibility of the New Orleans ICE Field Office—Alabama,
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee. This is needed to show that DHS will prioritize
rescue and relief efforts over immigration enforcement.
On July 10, Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency for the State of
Louisiana, and Mayor Cantrell issued a proclamation declaring a state of emergency for the City
of New Orleans. These declarations were made because of predictions of a Category 1 Hurricane
making landfall in Louisiana, with thunderstorms and hurricane-force winds likely to endanger
life, injury, and property in the area. The Gulf Coast region is particularly at risk because of the
danger of storm surge on the Mississippi River, which already measured at 16 feet at the
Carrollton gauge on July 10 before the Barry system entered the area. Hurricane Barry may
create an unprecedented situation in the New Orleans region: a cyclone-driven storm surge up a
river already running at its highest point since 1950. This could create a surge higher even than
Hurricane Katrina. Plaquemines Parish President Kirk Lepine has issued a mandatory
evacuation order and other parishes are contemplating calling for evacuations.
Emergency protection from hurricanes and natural disasters is a fundamental human right, and
evacuation should never lead to deportation. But in this environment, immigrant residents and
their families will fear risking deportation from evacuation, shelters, and all emergency aid
efforts unless DHS makes specific public reassurances that immigration enforcement is
suspended. Such assurances are critical to the ongoing safety of all

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 Gulf Coast residents during this humanitarian crisis and would be consistent with DHS’s position
that priorities in any emergency are life-saving and life-sustaining activities, preventing the loss
of property to the extent possible, and assisting with a speedy recovery of the affected region.
DHS attempted to give assurances during Hurricane Florence when it issued a statement on
September 14 of last year that “there will be no immigration enforcement initiatives associated
with evacuations or sheltering related to Florence, except in the event of a serious public safety
threat.” But DHS directives in these moments should be clear and unequivocal that all
immigration enforcement in a humanitarian disaster relief area is suspended while a state of
emergency has been declared and while relief efforts of evacuations, sheltering, and return of
evacuees to their homes are on-going.
Lives are at stake as communities in the Gulf Coast prepare for a storm that could be devastating.
It is essential that DHS issue a clear directive suspending immigration enforcement in the Gulf
Coast region—the area of the New Orleans Field Office—so that no one fears fleeing the path of
the storm. Thank you for your immediate attention to this important issue.
Please contact me as soon as possible at 504-264-4219 to discuss this urgent issue.
Signed,
Ursula Price
Executive Director
New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice
CC:
Bryan Cox
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Bryan.D.Cox@ice.dhs.gov
Mayor Latoya Cantrell
City of New Orleans
lcantrell@nola.gov
Laura Mellem
Public Engagement Manager
City of New Orleans
lamellem@nola.gov
Dr. Bruce Parker

217 North Prieur Street, New Orleans LA 70112 • Office: (504) 309 -5165 • Fax (504) 309-5205
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 Director of Community Programs
Office Of the Governor
State of Louisiana
B.Parker@la.gov
Councilwoman Helena Moreno
President
New Orleans City Council
morenocouncil@nola.gov

217 North Prieur Street, New Orleans LA 70112 • Office: (504) 309 -5165 • Fax (504) 309-5205
Check out our website: www.NOWCRJ.org