Previous Story
Non-US citizens claim they’ve been denied FEMA aid
The Inos administration is looking into public complaints that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is denying individual assistance for Typhoon Soudelor recovery aid to certain people because they are not U.S. citizens or green card holders.
Posts on social media lamenting a purported denial of assistance by FEMA representatives were brought to the attention of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor yesterday.
Complaints ranged from those saying that they were denied assistance because they were not U.S. citizens or green card holders, to others who urged the administration to find out what were the “main requirements for FEMA assistance aside from a fully damaged house?”
In emails between the Lt. Governor’s Office and FEMA external affairs team, copies of which were obtained by Saipan Tribune, the administration noted that some non-U.S. citizens have been denied FEMA Individual Assistance after registering for aid.
There have been multiple cases in which these people have also received no compensation at all after inspection. Moreover, there was a case in which a FEMA representative said that individual assistance is limited to U.S. citizens only, said Kevin Bautista, special projects coordinator.
In reply, Veronic Verde, FEMA external affairs specialist, provided a press release from Aug. 13 explaining the FEMA guidelines.
“Those who are not qualified for FEMA assistance due to their citizenship may be eligible for non-exempt assistance such as voluntary agency, local government programs,” Verde said.
FEMA earlier said that Typhoon Soudelor survivors including those who are not U.S. citizens may be eligible for FEMA assistance. The aid may be available to citizens, non-citizen nationals, and qualified aliens.
FEMA says “qualified aliens” include those with legal permanent residence—those with green cards. “Their status will not be jeopardized by requesting disaster assistance,” FEMA says.
