Undocumented Workers Denied 9/11 Victim Status: The Case of Fernando Molinar
The Forgotten Victims of 9/11
🕊️ The Forgotten Victim: Why Fernando Molinar Should Be Included Among the 9/11 Victims 🕊️
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🚨 A Life Lost But Not Recognized 🚨
On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. 🇺🇸 Among them was a group of undocumented workers whose deaths went largely unrecognized. One such person is Fernando Jiménez Molinar, a young Mexican immigrant who vanished that day, yet his name remains absent from the official list of victims. 😢
The question remains: Why has Fernando’s story been forgotten? And more importantly, why should he be officially recognized? 🕵️♂️
🏙️ Fernando’s Journey to New York 🏙️
Fernando left his hometown in Oaxaca, Mexico at just 16 years old in search of a better future. 🇲🇽
💼 He found work in New York City, taking jobs in the food service industry to support himself and send money home to his family. By September 2001, 21-year-old Fernando was reportedly working at a pizzeria near the World Trade Center. 🍕
📞 Just days before the attacks, on September 8, 2001, he made a final phone call to his mother in Mexico, excited about starting a new job near the Twin Towers.
😨 September 11: The Day He Disappeared 😨
🔥 The attacks on the World Trade Center left chaos in their wake. Thousands of people were inside the towers and surrounding buildings when disaster struck. Fernando never returned home that day. 🏢💥
🧩 His roommates, also undocumented workers, said he had gone to work that morning—but he never came back. 😟 Fearing deportation, they initially hesitated to report him missing.
📢 Eventually, they reached out to Asociación Tepeyac, a community group that helps Latino immigrants in NYC. 👥 They began searching for Fernando, but their efforts hit roadblocks.
📜 Why Isn’t Fernando Officially Recognized? 📜
Despite his probable death in the attacks, Fernando’s name was removed from the official 9/11 victims’ list in 2003. ❌ Why?
⚠️ Lack of employment records: As an undocumented worker, Fernando was paid in cash, leaving no official employment verification. 💵 ⚠️ Limited evidence of his presence in the WTC area: With no work records and no eyewitnesses, proving he was at Ground Zero was difficult. 👀 ⚠️ Legal barriers for undocumented victims: The system often fails to recognize the undocumented population when disaster strikes. 🚧
😤 This exclusion has denied his family closure and made them ineligible for victims’ compensation.
🌎 The Bigger Picture: Undocumented Workers & 9/11 🌎
Fernando was not alone. Dozens of undocumented workers are believed to have perished in the Twin Towers that day. 😞 Many were janitors, kitchen staff, and maintenance workers—the invisible workforce of New York City. 🏙️
❌ Because they lacked documentation, many of their deaths remain uncounted. ❌ Their families were excluded from government compensation programs. ❌ Their stories have been erased from the official 9/11 narrative.
🕯️ Why Fernando Deserves Recognition 🕯️
Fernando lived and worked in New York just like so many other victims. He was a part of the city’s lifeblood. 🌆
✔️ He was present near the WTC on 9/11. ✔️ He disappeared and was never heard from again. ✔️ His family deserves closure and justice.
💬 “Every life lost on 9/11 matters. Whether documented or undocumented, we must honor them all.” – A community advocate
🚀 What Needs to Be Done? 🚀
Fernando’s story is a reminder that history must include everyone. 📖 The following steps could help rectify this oversight:
📌 Reevaluate missing persons’ cases from 9/11. 📌 Advocate for the inclusion of undocumented victims. 📌 Recognize the contributions of undocumented workers in NYC. 📌 Provide support for families still seeking justice.
🗣️ What do you think? Should Fernando Jiménez Molinar be officially included among the 9/11 victims?
Let us know your thoughts! 🧐 And most importantly, let’s make sure no one is forgotten. 🕊️
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