Following the release of a 9/11 worker from ICE detention, a group of New York lawmakers will introduce legislation that would grant legal status to undocumented immigrants who assisted in rescue and recovery efforts following the worst terrorist attack in our nation’s history. The 9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Act, introduced by Rep. Joe Crowley and co-sponsored by Reps. Adriano Espaillat, Jerrold Nadler, and Nydia Velázquez, would grant legal status and protection from deportation to at least 1,000 of the undocumented immigrants who volunteered at Ground Zero, like Carlos Cardona:
“They went to work at a long, hazardous and sad job of cleaning up the destruction of a terrorist attack on that day. There is no doubt in my mind that what they did was beyond patriotic; it was heroic,” Crowley (D-Queens) said at a press conference outside City Hall.
“They served our country when we needed a hand, and now we’re only showing them, unfortunately, the back of ours. Instead of gratitude, they’re being shown the door.”
Despite the fact that deportation hung over his head at the time, Carlos didn’t think twice about assisting in recovery efforts. As a result, he suffers from health issues due to breathing in toxic air and rubble. Carlos was despicably arrested during a “routine” ICE check-in last February—advocates have come to know these as “silent raids”—and held in detention for months, until he was finally released at the end of June after public outcry and support from legislators.
“During the darkness of that day, we saw New Yorkers rally together to care for one another and respond to the attack,” said Rep. Velázquez. “Immigrants, documented and undocumented, were among those that worked on ‘the pile,’ searching for survivors and helping our city recover.”
This legislation, born in the home state of the current president of the United States, should be a no-brainer and the least our nation can do for those who put their health on the line to assist during one of our nation’s gravest times. Yet this is the response from Republicans, according to the New York Times: ”The bill currently does not have support from any Republican members of Congress, Mr. Crowley said.”