Hurricane Katrina and the Effect on Immigrants

Kevin Johnson, a professor of law and a specialist in civil rights and immigration law, is studying how immigrants were affected by the disaster. "Federal, state and local governments treated immigrants harshly in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and political failure within administration agencies contributed to this treatment," he said. Johnson believes Hurricane Katrina is symptomatic of a more general problem in the governance of the United States. "A shadow population of millions of undocumented immigrants who are abused and exploited lack any formal input into the political process. They, as well as many lawful immigrants, are part of a low-wage caste of color."

Johnson is author of "The 'Huddled Masses' Myth: Immigration and Civil Rights" and "How Did You Get to Be Mexican?" and is editor of"Mixed Race America: A Critical Reader." He holds leadership positions with Legal Services of Northern California and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund.