Relief for 9/11 immigrant relatives

The U.S. government has eased some of the red tape facing the families of illegal immigrants who died during the 9/11 attacks. Lawyers for approximately the relatives of 25 illegal immigrants said that they are eligible to receive monies from the federal Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund yet have had trouble collecting them due to fear of deportation. As Gothamist noted:

The legal reprieve will not be extended to illegal immigrant family members who have criminal records, ties to terrorism, or deportation orders that were already in effect at the time of the attacks…

Homeland Security's Stewart Baker said the family members will be allowed to provide biographical and personal information regarding their family situations without providing their names. The reprieve is meant to give lawmakers and lawyers an opportunity to gather information about this group of people in order to possibly grant them permanent legal status.

Sources- Gothamist, International Herald Tribune