Houston Cracks Down on Criminals Among Katrina Evacuees

The city of Houston gained worldwide recognition forcriminal records and have committed no crimes here
taking in tens of thousands of evacuees fromin Texas. But authorities have been concerned in
Louisiana fleeing Hurricane Katrina three months ago,particular by reports that hundreds of gang members
but among the displaced were some unwelcomefrom the New Orleans area intermingled with the
guests, violent criminals. Local, state and federalevacuees and came to Texas. Before Katrina, New
authorities are making progress in getting the criminalOrleans had one of the highest crime rates among
element off the streets.major U.S. cities.
The Houston Police Department, backed by stateIn a related development Monday, Texas Attorney
and federal law enforcement agencies, is movingGeneral Greg Abbott announced that 13 fugitives
against violent criminals and gang members, many offrom justice in Louisiana have been apprehended in
whom came here among evacuees fleeing HurricaneTexas in recent weeks. The 11 men and two women
Katrina in early September. Houston Police Chiefare all wanted for violent criminal acts. Three of them
Harold Hurtt says these criminals from New Orleansare wanted for murder.
and other areas of the neighboring state have had aAttorney General Abbott says information reluctantly
negative impact on Houston.provided by the Federal Emergency Management
"We are beginning to see more involvement in violentAgency (FEMA) helped in tracking down the fugitives.
offenses by the evacuees who came here fromMost of them had applied for federal assistance
Louisiana," said Mr. Hurtt.following the disaster in September. FEMA initially
The Houston Police Chief says some of the Louisianaopposed opening its records to law enforcement
criminals may have been swept up recently as partinvestigators, but Mr. Abbott says the agency
of an operation that started six months ago, withrelented after his office spent weeks demanding
federal assistance, to target violent criminals.access to the files.
"One way that we can stop repeat offenders is toTexas officials are also working with authorities in
make sure that they are not on the street and eitherLouisiana to track down dozens of convicted sex
in the county jail or state prison," he added.offenders who failed to register with authorities, as
There are around 100,000 evacuees from Louisianarequired under the terms of their parole release. One
still living in the Houston area and tens of thousandsman with a sex offense record in Louisiana was
more in other Texas cities like Dallas, Austin and Sanarrested in Dallas recently on charges of molesting a
Antonio. The vast majority of the evacuees have nochild in that city.