Sick Undocumented 9/11 Cleanup Workers Demand Health Coverage, Legal Status for Work at Ground Zero

March 1, 2010

By David Pedulla / New York Daily News

Nearly a decade ago, Liliana Sanchez stood knee- deep in dust at an office building near Ground Zero, vacuuming for $60 a day with only a paper mask to protect her.

These days, the undocumented Colombian immigrant struggles to breathe while climbing a flight of subway stairs and worried about the future of her medical care.

"They called us heroes while we were working and we also felt like heroes. Now they have pushed us aside," said the 40-year-old from Medellin.

Sanchez will join 200 other undocumented 9/11 cleanup workers Tuesday at a rally to push for continued health coverage and legal immigration status.

Most of their compensation suits they have filed are pending, and they feel stuck in limo while health-care and immigration changes are on the horizon.

"These folks are sort of at the center of a perfect storm," said Javier Valdes, deputy director of Make the Road New York, a non-profit advocacy group.

"We don't want immigration reform to pass in 2012 and have these people pass away."

The workers say they are grateful for federally funded medical care they get but are afraid it could vanish without mandatory funding.

"At any moment...they could cut our benefits, and take this away from us," said Jose Gaviria, 59, another Colombian immigrants.

He gets free psychological treatment and care for 9/11-related conditions like chronic rhinitis and acid reflux through the World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program at Mt. Sinai.