9/11 Responders Who Rebuilt NYC Now Fear Deportation

(NEW YORK, NY, USA) Two decades after they helped clear the toxic rubble of Ground Zero, many undocumented workers who served as 9/11 Responder cleanup laborers are again at the center of national policy—this time as targets of tougher enforcement. As of September 11, 2025, advocates in New York say these workers live with renewed deportation fear under the Trump administration’s second-term policies and recent court decisions that expand the government’s ability to remove people without permanent status. While a new bill seeks to offer protections, it has not passed, leaving workers who aided the United States 🇺🇸 during a time of crisis with no direct path to legal status.

Legislative effort: the Gillibrand bill

On February 26, 2025, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2025, which would give permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship to undocumented workers who cleaned up after the attacks. Supporters argue these workers demonstrated service and sacrifice comparable to other groups who have received status.

• The bill would carve out a clear legal path for 9/11 cleanup workers who can document their role in recovery efforts.
• Supporters say it mirrors past measures that provided status to people who served the national interest.
• Critics argue that creating exceptions could encourage future unauthorized work.

The bill remains stalled. Without a vote, 9/11 Responder cleanup workers continue to face stepped-up arrests, court dates, and the risk of removal.

Policy actions raising risk for undocumented workers

The Department of Homeland Security ramped up enforcement in mid-2025 with measures that swept beyond the 9/11 community but still affected them.

• In June 2025, DHS ordered an estimated 500,000 beneficiaries of humanitarian parole from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) to “self-deport,” which advocates describe as a mass move that cancels temporary status and work permits. Many ordered to depart had been screened and admitted on humanitarian grounds.
  • While the CHNV directive did not specifically target 9/11 cleanup workers, advocates say it signals the administration’s willingness to strip protections broadly, fueling deportation fear among undocumented workers with long U.S. ties.
• Also in June 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the administration to resume expedited deportations and to send certain migrants to third countries that are not their home nations.
  • Immigrant-rights lawyers say the decision backs a broader removal strategy, including reliance on older statutory tools like the 1798 Alien Enemies Act and transfers to countries such as El Salvador, Panama, and Costa Rica.
  • With expedited removal revived, advocates report that longtime residents—even those who worked after 9/11—worry a routine traffic stop or a hospital visit may trigger detention.
• The administration has expanded interior enforcement beyond traditional immigration officers.
  • Federal resources, including support from other agencies and the military, have reportedly been deployed to speed removals and increase arrests inside the country.
  • Advocates say this creates a climate of anxiety for undocumented workers who once labored alongside first responders in New York’s recovery.

Human impact: health, fear, and daily life

For the aging cohort of 9/11 cleanup workers, the policy shift compounds serious health problems linked to months spent at or near Ground Zero.

• Many handled debris without adequate protective gear, breathed in smoke and dust, and now require regular medical care.
• Example: Luceli Gil, a 69-year-old from Colombia, told advocates she is afraid to travel to specialist appointments because checkpoints or a chance encounter could lead to detention.
• Legal service groups say fear has pushed some workers to skip care, risking their health to avoid the possibility of arrest.

Advocates argue that criminalizing people who helped rebuild after the attacks undermines national promises made in the aftermath and ignores that many have:

• Lived and worked in the city for decades
• Raised families
• Paid taxes

Voices quoted in advocacy:
– Karen Tumlin, founder of the Justice Action Center, denounced the stripping of status from hundreds of thousands as a “callous action” that cuts off due process and spreads fear.
– Rosa Bramble Caballero, leader of the Venezuelan Alliance for Community Support, said undocumented workers who helped after 9/11 deserve citizenship for their sacrifice and that treating them as lawbreakers dishonors their contribution.

Legal landscape and practical guidance

The legal environment adds another layer of uncertainty.

• The Supreme Court’s June 2025 decisions strengthen the government’s hand on expedited removal and third-country transfers.
• Lawyers warn that people who relied on temporary protections—or assumed low enforcement risk due to long residence—can no longer bank on discretion.
• With federal agencies ordered to boost departures, individual equities like community ties or illness may carry less weight.

Practical steps community groups recommend:
1. Prepare emergency plans for families.
2. Keep copies of identification and critical medical records.
3. Know your rights if approached by enforcement officers.
4. Consult qualified counsel if any avenue for relief may exist (for example, a U.S. citizen child turning 21, a U.S. citizen spouse, or certain humanitarian channels).

• Many 9/11 workers do not fit current legal categories and therefore remain dependent on Congressional action.

Health access and service disruptions

The enforcement push also affects healthcare access.

• For workers in the World Trade Center Health Program and other clinics, travel to appointments now carries fresh risk.
• Some patients request telehealth instead of in-person visits, though not all services can be offered remotely.
• Social workers report people missing cancer screenings or lung function tests out of fear.
• Families are arranging rides, carrying appointment letters, and keeping emergency phone numbers ready in case of stops.

Local responses and documentation

Officials in New York have urged federal policymakers to weigh the service and sacrifice of these workers—sometimes comparing it to how military service is treated. The administration has so far emphasized restoring order at the border and within the interior, framing expedited removal and broader deportations as necessary deterrents.

Community advocates note local governments can provide practical support even without federal action:

• Funding legal screenings
• Helping workers gather proof of cleanup service
• Connecting them with medical documentation related to 9/11 exposure

Useful types of documentation:
– Pay stubs
– Job site logs
– Affidavits from contractors
– Medical records linked to 9/11 exposure

Documented proof can strengthen requests for relief where any legal avenue exists.

Analysis, resources, and next steps

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the intersection of long-term health needs, aging workers, and stricter enforcement creates unique pressures on New York’s immigrant communities. Local groups are adjusting outreach to include safety planning, health access coaching, and guidance on responding to enforcement at home or en route to treatment.

For official information on arrests, detention, or removal, the government directs the public to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That site provides agency updates and contact details, though advocates stress it does not replace legal advice.

With Congress back in session this fall, supporters of the Gillibrand bill will push for hearings and a floor vote. They intend to frame the measure as narrow, earned relief for a finite group tied to a national tragedy. Opponents caution that any new pathway risks setting a precedent for other groups to seek similar treatment.

For now, undocumented workers who once helped New York rebuild wait—balancing health needs against the risk of exposure to enforcement. Many say this feels like a second sacrifice, years after the first.