September 21, 2001

Statement by INS Commissioner James Ziglar

WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Immigration and Naturalization Service Commissioner James Ziglar released the following statement encouraging undocumented aliens who may have lost friends or family in the New York City terrorist attack to contact local authorities without fear of INS attempting to acquire or use that information for immigration purposes:

All of us in the INS family have been deeply shocked and saddened by the terrible loss of life and destruction in New York. We are committed to supporting the rescue and recovery efforts taking place at the World Trade Center. We have heard disturbing reports that some people whose loved ones are missing have not come forward because of immigration issues. We cannot let that happen. It is crucial that local authorities get the help they need in identifying victims and the missing. I want to personally urge the immigrant community to come forward, and assure everyone that INS will not seek immigration status information provided to local authorities in the rescue and recovery efforts.