9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Act

The bill lets people who worked or volunteered in rescue, recovery, demolition, or cleanup in lower Manhattan, the Staten Island landfill, or the barge loading piers apply for lawful permanent residence within 18 months of enactment, but only if they met a minimum-hours threshold ranging from 4 hours right after the attacks up to 80 hours by July 2002. The same benefit, with no hours requirement, covers Pentagon and Shanksville rescue workers and vehicle-maintenance workers exposed to debris through July 2002. Applicants get work permits and needs-based fee waivers.