Chairman Crowley Cheers Carlos Cardona’s Release from ICE Facility Following Efforts from Crowley, Immigration Agency Confirms 9/11 Worker’s Release

Chairman Crowley Cheers Carlos Cardona’s Release from ICE Facility
Following Efforts from Crowley, Immigration Agency Confirms 9/11 Worker’s Release

(Washington, DC) – House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-NY) issued the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that 9/11 cleanup worker Carlos Humberto Cardona has been released from an ICE facility, where he was facing an imminent threat of deportation:

“This is a positive step forward in Mr. Cardona’s case. Deporting him would have sent the wrong message, not just to the immigrants who call our country home, but to all who would help when their country calls on them. We must now turn our efforts to assisting Mr. Cardona in gaining legal permanent residence. It’s the least we can do for a man who helped New York after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. I urge the Department of Homeland Security to review his case so that Mr. Cardona can remain in the U.S. permanently and to stop this unfair pattern of attacks on hardworking immigrants.”

Congressman Crowley sent a letter last week to the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services urging them to stop deportation efforts against Cardona.

ICE confirmed with Congressman Crowley’s office that his immigration case is ongoing, but that Mr. Cardona will no longer be detained as the case is processed.

Carlos Cardona fled violence in Colombia nearly three decades ago, according to reports, and has been living in the United States with his wife, a U.S. citizen, since. Despite Department of Homeland Security and U.S. immigration officials previously determining that Mr. Cardona was not an immediate priority for deportation, he was picked up in February and was held at the Hudson County Correctional Facility in New Jersey.

Congressman Crowley is drafting legislation to ensure that each and every 9/11 cleanup worker is able to continue living and receiving medical treatment in the U.S., free from the threat of deportation.