Reading Room Document

Use of the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 in an "Immigration Emergency"

The Disaster Relief Act authorizes the provision of federal aid to state and local governments in the event of an emergency or major disaster, whether resulting from natural or man-made causes. Whether a particular "immigration emergency" so threatens property or human life as to fall within the scope of the Act is a matter for the President in his discretion to determine. The OLC does not provide release dates for its opinions, so the release date listed is the date on which the opinion was authored. The original opinion is available at www.justice.gov/file/23226/download.

November 19, 1982