MEDIA REACTION ON DHS' RESPONSE TO HURRICANE

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002054

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/PD, IIP/T/ES, IIP/G/WHA, PRM, AND WHA/CEN
EMBASSIES FOR PAOS, IOs

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP SMIG PREL PGOV KPAO HO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON DHS' RESPONSE TO HURRICANE
KATRINA VICTIMS, OCTOBER 4, 2005



1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna"
on 10/3 entitled "Nerve-wracking." "Crescencio Arcos,
Director of International Affairs of the Department of
Internal Security of the United States, known as `Homeland
Security,' has offered a statement to the national press in
regard to the treatment received by those displaced by
Hurricane Katrina, hundreds of them Hondurans who lived in
the southern communities of the United States."

"With regard to the actions taken by the federal government
to assist the thousands of Hispanics who were affected by
Katrina, Ambassador Arcos said to La Tribuna, `To reach the
large Hispanic and Vietnamese populations in the Gulf coast
region, DHS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) have deployed a number of Community Relations
Officers and Public Affairs Officers who are multilingual to
aid the victims in finding and applying for assistance'."

"There has been some tension among the Spanish-speaking
population that the U.S. authorities will deport all
undocumented aliens to their country of origin. On this
issue Arcos said, `U.S. government officers will not
routinely verify the immigration status of individuals
seeking emergency assistance as a result of Katrina or any
other natural disaster.' These statements have cleared up
some of the doubts held by those who might have been
affected by deportations."

"Without a doubt, the timely declarations of Ambassador
Arcos have calmed the anxiety that has prevailed amongst
hurricane victims, who can now benefit from the services
provided by hurricane shelters without the fear that they
will be captured, put in a plane and sent back."

Williard