washington trump administration line tough immigration policy keep red tape place could make hard immigrants aftermath hurricane harvey find job contractors decision critics say likely slow gulf coast recovery aftermath hurricane katrina 2005 republican president george w. bush temporarily exempt employers hire katrina victims verify new employees authorize work unite state 45-day suspension allow survivors whose identification document lose storm work await new ones also allow undocumented immigrants quickly find job contractors u.s. citizenship immigration service say statement wednesday expedite replacement lose document storm victims employment verification requirements remain place move draw praise scorn politicians others much rebuild need make easy folks get back work say representative lloyd doggett democrat whose constituency include part southeast texas unfortunately always overflow anti-immigrant hysteria trump administration choose red tape bureaucracy instead learn lessons past disasters president donald trump republican build base support 2016 election campaign vow stop people immigrate unite state illegally push wall build along u.s. border mexico business leaders say immigrants make important contributions effort limit employment hurt economic growth tax revenue representative marc veasey another texas democrat say government penalize harvey victims provide employers temporary leeway allow texans focus rebuild live pressure potential employees provide document may lose hurricane harvey veasey say representative lamar smith republican congressman south-central texas critical department homeland security dhs decision 2005 think repeat harvey come ashore last friday powerful storm hit texas 50 years flood houston drive tens thousands home move louisiana thursday say harvey destruction mean federal immigration laws ignore regulations require federal contractors verify legal work authorization employees say statement reuters policies put place protect american workers taxpayers uscis refer question decision immigration customs enforcement division dhs enforce federal immigration policy ice spokeswoman dani bennett decline speculate future policy change say ice intent conduct immigration enforcement areas affect harvey waive verification requirements katrina aim citizens legal residents lose document storm since employers must verify identity new hire document passports permanent residence card driver license several immigration attorneys say dhs 2005 decision also tacit acknowledgment undocumented immigrants need help rebuild pew research center estimate last year 28 percent texas construction workforce undocumented study put number high 50 percent certain circumstances people desperately need help things say william j. man immigration attorney new york time get precious documentation days weeks katrina contractors inside outside new orleans move rebuild take advantage government reconstruction fund number workers construction relate industries new orleans area plummet hurricane accord 2006 brook institution study dhs decision separate decision department labor temporarily lift wage restrictions part effort bush administration address labor shortage worry trump administration decision slow post-harvey rebuild employers struggle meet federal documentation requirements storm aftermath damage damage repair need do say jorge lopez immigration attorney florida local folks try hire right away even exist crew go enough people work need do trump 's tough immigration policy extend workers post-harvey