Espaillat, Ocasio-Cortez, Meng Reintroduce Legislation to Provide a Pathway to Citizenship for Undocumented Workers Who Helped Clean Up Ground Zero

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Grace Meng (NY-06) reintroduced the 9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Act, legislation that 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 following the September 11th attacks.

While saving lives during the attacks and cleaning up Ground Zero, workers were exposed to air contaminants, potential carcinogens, and now live with diseases linked to the exposure. Because of their immigration status, many of these brave New Yorkers face barriersto receiving the medical care they need.

"September 11th marked one of the darkest days for our nation, and in the aftermath of the attacks, many immigrant workers-undocumented and unseen, stepped forward to help rebuild, clean, and care for a city and nation in crisis," said Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). "Their courage, sacrifice, and determination were vital to our recovery, and their contributions during that critical time is a lasting reminder that the strength of this nation is rooted in the hands and hearts of immigrants. I proudly stand with my colleagues, once again, to introduce the 9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Act to provide a pathway to citizenship for immigrant workers and volunteers who sacrificed at Ground Zero to help our nation recover."

"Twenty-four years ago, thousands of undocumented first responders and volunteers risked their lives to help our city rebuild during one of our nation's darkest days. They are American heroes. Yet, our country has virtually abandoned them as they struggle with the health impact of asbestos exposures and other related trauma and injury," said Representative Ocasio-Cortez. "It's past time Congress delivers a pathway to citizenship for these brave New Yorkers and shows them the gratitude they are owed."

"Some 2,000 heroic immigrants worked tirelessly to help clean-up and save lives at Ground Zero," said Representative Meng. "They made enormous sacrifices by putting their health and safety at risk, and now many struggle with serious health issues. Passing the 9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Act would be the right thing to do for immigrants who bravely answered the call in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. They put themselves in harm's way for New York and the nation and have more than earned a pathway to citizenship."

The full bill text is available here.

# # #

Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government's vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

Media inquiries: Candace Person at [email protected]