Flint immigrants struggle to get help, message on water

FLINT, Mich. — For immigrants who often don't speak English, there is often a lot of important information that is missed. That is one of the challenges facing Flint's immigration population, some of whom are undocumented and don't know English.

There are an estimated 1,000 undocumented immigrants in Flint, many from Mexico or Central American countries. Flint's population is about 1.2% foreign-born, a population whose needs should be met during the water crisis to ensure public health for all, community advocates say.

One undocumented immigrant from Mexico, who asked not to be named because of her immigration status, saw a rash on her 11-month-old daughter's back and legs. She doesn't understand English and was unaware of the problems with Flint's water. She didn't find out about that the water may be contaminated with lead, potentially harming her, her husband and her four daughters, ages 13, 10, 7 and 11-months, until three weeks ago. She said she's worried about her daughters' health, adding that there are a lot of questions that need answers.

Some undocumented immigrants have been turned away from the state’s water distribution at fire stations because they didn’t have a photo ID with them, said immigrants, community activists and state officials. In Michigan, undocumented immigrants can’t get driver’s licenses, and so they often lack an ID.

When some undocumented immigrants were unable to show ID at state-run stations, they were denied water. In other cases, they were afraid to approach the stations because they heard about the ID requirement. Many elderly residents in Flint also lack IDs.

“It is appalling that a basic public service, providing clean water, has become the responsibility of community organizations,” said Ryan Bates, who is with the advocacy group Michigan United. “The governor should ensure that long-term treatment and medical care are available to all in Flint, regardless of their immigration status.”

Scared to take water 

A spokeswoman with the state Department of Health and Human Services, Angela Minicuci, confirmed Friday that some immigrants had been denied water because they couldn’t show ID. But, Minicuci said, the state has lifted the requirement, putting out a statement on Jan. 22 saying that no ID is required to get water. She said state workers request IDs or addresses only for water filters, but that if the Flint resident doesn’t have an ID, he or she will still receive a filter.

The initial denials of water in some cases sent ripples of fear through the community of undocumented people, some of whom are now staying away from the distribution of free water, said advocates. Stepped-up raids this year by federal immigration agents have made undocumented immigrants even more nervous about asking for help and opening the door for strangers. This has caused challenges for reaching them with bottled water.

“They’re afraid to get water,” said San Juana Olivares, chair of the Genesee County Hispanic/Latino Collaborative, which is helping the community during the water crisis. “They’re still living in fear.”

The group has been canvassing neighborhoods to distribute water and water filters.

State workers are handing out cards with water information in English, Arabic and Spanish, Minicuci said. Also, if residents call 211 for help, they can get bilingual speakers or be put in touch with help in their language, she said.

Flint’s population is about 4% Latino, according to the U.S. Census. Community leaders say it it’s closer to 6%. There are also about 42 Arab-American families in the city, some of whom may have been unaware of the water problems, according to the Arab American Heritage Council in Flint.

“Many have language barriers, and some don’t follow local” media, said Mona Sahouri, executive director of the Arab American Heritage Council. “They may be especially vulnerable, some real challenges. ... We’ve been working to identify these families to make them aware of the situation.”

The council also is working on translating documents on water and potential lead contamination into Arabic.

Many ask: What do I do?

Over the last week, religious and other groups have worked to reach out to immigrants to make sure they’re able to get water. On Flint’s east side, which has a sizable Latino population, St. Mary’s Catholic Church has been distributing water, with no questions asked about ID or immigration status. Further north, at Our Lady of Guadalupe, the majority-Latino Catholic congregation with Spanish-language mass has mobilized to gather water and filters.

“There is a lot of need, especially among the undocumented that don’t have IDs,” said Richard Vasquez, a member at Our Lady who’s coordinating water distribution. “They don’t know what to do. They’re really scared.”

Our Lady deacon Omar Odette said that many in his congregation were late to find out about lead because of language barriers.

“This little boy, he had rashes up and down his arms. The lead is affecting this boy, but the mother spoke no English, and she still didn’t know even after all this” increased attention on the water, he said. After seeing a report on the Spanish-language TV station Univision, the mother came over to the church asking: “What am I supposed to do?”

“When you see kids like that, you pray the lead doesn’t affect them later on.”

Others help to ease fear

Susan Reed, managing attorney with the Michigan Immigrants Rights Center, said there is confusion in the community. “A lot thought it would be OK if you boil the water, especially those from Latin America, where you boil water from unsafe water supplies,” Reed said. But boiling water doesn’t remove the lead.

Help for undocumented immigrants has poured in from across the nation, including from Ohio and Texas. Parishioners with a Baptist church in Rhode Island drove all night to Flint to drop off two tractor-trailers of water. Odette said one woman with the group “started crying, saying, ‘I just can’t stand it, with the children who are undocumented not getting water.’ ”

On Thursday, the state dropped off hundreds of water filters. On Friday, about six cars filled with bottled water from the Jewish community in Michigan, led by the Flint Jewish Federation, dropped off water after hearing undocumented people weren’t getting access. And on Saturday, the Service Employees International Union dropped off water and prayed with the church.

The woman with four children uses bottled water to cook, make infant formula and wash dishes.

She said she's not just worried about the health of her children in the future, but also for other mothers and children.

Follow Niraj Warikoo on Twitter: @nwarikoo