As Americans look back on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, it’s important to remember that a group of 6000 undocumented immigrant workers in their fifties and sixties, who had all known each other for over 25 years, were among the people who worked to clean up at Ground Zero after the Twin Towers fell. These people were all exposed to toxic debris and psychological trauma. As President Trump continues his aggressive removal campaign of undocumented people using ICE and Homeland Security resources, it is important to reflect on the sacrifices these people have made to migrate and live in the United States.

Throughout 2026 ICE has been terrorizing and ripping families apart day after day. The excessive violence used in their deportation process has included shooting people, slamming people on the ground and pepper spraying babies. Homeland Security has purchased 6,000 pairs of electric shock gloves for use by its officers.

These are some of the unarmed people ICE has shot and killed during the second Trump administration:

Joan Sebastion Guerrero,

Lorenzo Salgado Araujo

Alex Pretti

Renne Good

Isaias Sanches Barboza

Silverio Villegas Gonzalez

Ruben Ray Martinez

“(ICE) has gotten away with literal murder and they are still allowed to go out and harass US citizens with just the assumption (that they are) immigrants by their looks,” stated Co-op junior Andrea Perez. “They are violating everyone's rights and it's unfair. The justice system hasn't done anything (to protect asylum seekers).”

As a Mexican-American with an immigrant mom, I am deeply terrified that one day my mom will go to work and not come back home. My mom came to the United States with nothing but the clothes on her back and my older sister. She came to the United States to give me and my siblings a better life and a better education. When we honor the heroes of the 9/11 tragedies, we can’t forget to pay respect to the millions of immigrants who came to this country just like my mother to build a better life and a better nation.