Hurricane Katrina victims lined up for Red Cross relief funds, Monday

U.S. Hispanic advocates are expessing concern that illegal immigrants affected by Hurricane Katrina could be at risk of deportation if they seek aid from the federal government.

They cite a recent case of two immigrants from Central America who were part of a group of evacuees transported to the U.S. eastern state of West Virginia earlier this month. The two men were taken into custody by immigration agents after authorities received a complaint that one of them had sexually assaulted a female passenger.

The Department of Homeland Security has encouraged illegal immigrants displaced by the hurricane to come forward and seek federal aid.

Some Democratic lawmakers say the department should promise immigrants they will not share their information with law enforcement agencies.

Some information for this report provided by AP.