The destructive force of Hurricane Katrina has been well-documented and will continue to draw our attention for years to come. Along with homes, businesses and lives, Katrina has also destroyed one of the favorite arguments posed by open immigration advocates: namely that immigrants, especially illegal aliens, do the jobs Americans don’t want.

As the Katrina evacuees spread out across the country, many find themselves in direct competition with millions of illegal aliens for scarce jobs. The government estimates that some 400,000 jobs were lost in the Gulf region as a result of the hurricane. These workers, who are now seeking jobs in other parts of the United States, report they are finding jobs in their new, or temporary, homes already filled by illegal aliens.

After being victimized by Mother Nature, these displaced Americans are now being victimized by government policies that continue to place the interests of illegal alien above those of law-abiding American citizens. Shortly after the storm, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced his department was suspending deportations of illegal aliens and DHS will not enforce employer sanctions laws for at least 45 days. (Note to Secretary Chertoff: DHS wasn’t enforcing employer sanctions laws before Hurricane Katrina struck!)

FAIR has always argued there were few, if any jobs, American workers would not do, if they were given the opportunity to compete for them at a fair wage. Former residents of the Gulf Coast, who are seeking the very jobs they find occupied by illegal aliens indicates Americans are ready and eager to do the jobs.

Even more dismaying are reports that large numbers of foreign workers will be necessary to rebuild New Orleans and other devastated communities. Desperate American workers may not even have the opportunity to find work rebuilding their own communities. If ever there was a situation that demanded the government protect American workers from competition from illegal immigrant labor, the crisis many Gulf Coast workers find themselves in must require the government to enforce laws against hiring illegal labor.

10/05