The Federal Emergency Management Agency is asking a federal judge for immunity from lawsuits filed on behalf of hurricane victims who claim they were exposed to dangerous fumes in government-issued trailers.

Lawyers for victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita accuse FEMA of negligence for sheltering them in trailers with elevated levels of formaldehyde. Many of the trailers were built by four Elkhart, Indiana companies -- Gulf Stream Coach, Keystone RV, Pilgrim International and Forest River.

A government attorney told U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt that FEMA's decision to use the trailers shouldn't be subject to second-guessing by the court. A plaintiff's attorney argued that FEMA failed to follow federal mandates to provide victims with safe housing. It was unclear when the judge will rule.