Reintroduction of the 9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Act

Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Grace Meng (NY-06) have reintroduced the 9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Act, a legislation aimed at providing a path to citizenship for immigrant first responders, workers, and volunteers who assisted with clean-up and search-and-rescue efforts at Ground Zero following the September 11th attacks. These workers were exposed to hazardous conditions, including air contaminants and potential carcinogens, and now live with diseases linked to the exposure. Despite their bravery and sacrifices, many of these workers face barriers to receiving medical care due to their immigration status.

Key Takeaways:

• The 9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Act would provide a path to citizenship for immigrant first responders, workers, and volunteers who assisted with clean-up and search-and-rescue efforts at Ground Zero.
• At least 2,000 immigrant workers risked their health and safety to help clean-up and save lives at Ground Zero.
• Many of these workers now struggle with serious health issues, including diseases linked to exposure to hazardous conditions.
• Repeated calls for Congress to provide a pathway to citizenship for these workers have gone unheeded.
• Representative Adriano Espaillat, a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, is a sponsor of the legislation.
• Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has expressed support for the bill, stating that the workers are "American heroes" who were abandoned by the country.
• Representative Grace Meng has also expressed support, stating that passing the bill would be the right thing to do for immigrants who bravely answered the call in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

Statistics:

• At least 2,000 immigrant workers worked tirelessly to clean-up and save lives at Ground Zero.
• Hundreds of these workers exposed to hazardous conditions, including air contaminants and potential carcinogens.
• Many workers now live with diseases linked to exposure, including respiratory problems and other health issues.
• The 9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Act has been reintroduced multiple times, reflecting ongoing efforts to address the needs of immigrant workers.
• Representative Adriano Espaillat has been a vocal advocate for the rights of immigrant workers.

Sources:

• United States House of Representatives
• Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14)
• Grace Meng (NY-06)
• Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov