‘If they catch us they’ll deport us’: DeSantis law hinders Idalia recovery

People who worked on recovery efforts afraid to travel to Florida in case they are targeted by immigration authorities

Maria, a 43-year-old woman from Honduras, has worked on recovery efforts after five different natural disasters in the US. She has done work remodeling, rebuilding, and demolishing homes and buildings damaged by multiple hurricanes, including Hurricane Ian which hit Florida in 2022.

But, as Florida reals from yet another hit in the form of Hurricane Idalia, Maria will not be returning to the state to help with the clean-up.