Democrats are expected to introduce legislation this week that would grant green cards to illegals who volunteered in rescue and cleanup efforts in the aftermath of 9/11, Rep. Joe Crowley announced.
The "9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Act" would protect the undocumented workers from deportation.
"They served our country when we needed a hand, and now we are only showing them, unfortunately, the back of ours," Crowley, D-N.Y., said at a news conference in New York City on Sunday, The New York Times reports.
"Instead of gratitude, they are being shown the door."
It's likely to be a symbolic gesture only; the bill has no Republican support amid President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration, especially those convicted of crimes.
Crowley said 1,000 to 2,000 illegals who helped in the recovery efforts would be protected.
"They went to work at a long, hazardous and sad job of cleaning up the destruction of a terrorist attack on that day. There is no doubt in my mind that what they did was beyond patriotic; it was heroic," Crowley said, according to the NY Daily News.
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