9/11 at 25: Immigrant Workers Who Survived Still Fight
Pedro Francisco left his overnight security shift at the World Trade Center at 7 a.m. on September 11, 2001 — less than two hours before the first plane hit. Twenty-five years later, he and other immigrant survivors are still carrying the weight of that day. And they are still organizing.
You worked the overnight shift at the World Trade Center on September 10, 2001 — and left at 7 a.m., just hours before everything changed. That was Pedro Francisco's reality. Born in the Dominican Republic, Francisco had worked security at the Twin Towers since 1994. He was a member of union 32BJ SEIU, which had 1,200 members working at the World Trade Center that day. Twenty-four of them were killed. Many, like Francisco, were low-wage immigrant workers.
What the attacks took — and what came after
Fekkak Mamdouh, originally from Morocco, was a waiter at Windows on the World restaurant on the 106th and 107th floors of the North Tower. He was home that morning, scheduled to work later. Seventy-nine of his coworkers died — many of them undocumented immigrants. When Mamdouh went to his union hall the next day, he found families too afraid to leave their homes to search for missing loved ones. "They were scared because of all that backlash in New York against immigrants, against people of color, against Muslims," he told Documented. He began helping those families himself. That experience pushed him to co-found the Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York in 2002, and later One Fair Wage in 2019 — an organization now pushing legislation to raise New York's minimum wage to $30 an hour and eliminate subminimum wages for service workers.
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After the towers fell, Francisco and hundreds of fellow security guards lost their jobs overnight. Their union, 32BJ SEIU — which represents 185,000 service workers across the country — launched an aggressive organizing drive and brought over a thousand low-wage security guards into the union for the first time. Now, 25 years later, 32BJ is pushing to organize more than 50,000 security workers across New York City's five boroughs. The renewed campaign follows a 2025 shooting at a midtown office building that killed four people, including one 32BJ member. On September 11, 2026, Francisco and other 32BJ members held a vigil in Midtown Manhattan for those lost. A recently released report also found that New Yorkers were misled about the harmful air quality at ground zero — meaning many immigrant survivors are still dealing with chronic health problems tied to that day.
What to do
- If you are an immigrant worker dealing with health issues linked to ground zero exposure, contact your union or a local worker center — they can connect you with medical and legal resources.
- If you are undocumented and afraid to seek help after a crisis, organizations like worker centers and unions can often assist without requiring immigration status information.
- If you work in security or the restaurant industry in New York and want to know your labor rights, reach out to 32BJ SEIU or the Restaurant Opportunities Center for guidance.
- If a workplace crisis has left you without a job and you are unsure of your immigration options, consult an immigration lawyer to understand how job loss may affect your visa or work permit status.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
Immigrant workers who lose their jobs due to a disaster or workplace closure often face a narrow window to maintain lawful status — especially those on employer-sponsored visas or EADs tied to a specific job. If your employer shuts down, you may have a grace period to find new sponsorship or switch status, but that window can be as short as 60 days depending on your visa category. Document everything — your employment history, union membership, and any health issues — because this record can support future immigration applications or humanitarian relief claims. Consult an immigration attorney as soon as possible after a job loss to avoid gaps in status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can undocumented workers get help from a union without risking deportation?
Yes. Unions and worker centers generally provide support regardless of immigration status. They are not required to report members to immigration authorities, and many have explicit policies protecting member privacy. You can seek help with food, counseling, and paperwork without disclosing your status.
If I lose my job because of a disaster, what happens to my work permit or visa?
It depends on your visa type. If your work permit (EAD) is tied to a specific employer or petition, losing that job can affect your status. Some visa categories give you a 60-day grace period to find a new sponsor or change status. Talk to an immigration lawyer quickly — waiting too long can make your situation harder to fix.
Are there special immigration protections for workers affected by 9/11 or similar disasters?
After 9/11, Congress created some relief programs for affected workers, including certain visa extensions and humanitarian protections. Today, similar relief can sometimes come through Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or humanitarian parole, depending on the situation. An immigration attorney can tell you what currently applies to your case.
What is 32BJ SEIU and how can it help immigrant workers?
32BJ SEIU is one of the largest service worker unions in the US, representing about 185,000 workers including security guards and cleaners. It provides members with legal support, counseling, job placement help, and advocacy. If you work in building services or security in New York, you can contact 32BJ directly to ask about joining or getting support.