From L.A. wildfires to hurricanes, immigrants help rebuild after disasters. Some may face deportation.
As the number of extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change increases, there is a growing workforce of laborers, many of them without legal status.
LOS ANGELES — While firefighters battled blazes in the Los Angeles area this week, Alejandro, a 55-year-old from Mexico, was one of several day laborers leading cleanups near scorched neighborhoods in Pasadena and Altadena.
Donning a yellow safety vest, a mask and glasses, he helped pick up branches and fallen trees and direct traffic while others worked.
“The country would fall into crisis” without workers like him, said Alejandro, who spoke in Spanish and requested his last name not be used because he is in the country illegally.
“It wasn’t just one (home),” added Alejandro. “There were thousands.”
When President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House next week, he has said he plans to deport millions of immigrants in the country illegally. Immigrant advocates say that could impact America’s ability to quickly rebuild after major damage from floods, hurricanes, fires and other disasters.
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