Carmen Mejia from Ecuador lost her husband Manuel. The union is now trying to ensure she can remain in the United States with her children.

"I was afraid to go for help because I have no papers," she told a union conference, speaking through an interpreter.

Long-term support

After the attack, when a loved one failed to return home, many were afraid to approach the police or hospitals.

Some charities have paid out without asking too many questions. But the problem has been how to get longer-term support.

Social security is supposed to provide a monthly payment for the surviving spouse until he or she remarries, and for the children until they are 21.

"For undocumented immigrants, their families couldn't collect social security, even though deductions were made from their pay, in some cases for years," said Bill Granfield.

Compassion

But the prospects for the families living and working illegally in New York may be worse.

The union wants an assurance from the government that the families of these ‘invisible victims’ can remain in the United States, as an act of compassion.

"These people left their homelands to take a risk to come to the land of the free in pursuit of the American dream," said Bill Granfield.

"Now a part of their families, the ones that were lost, will never leave America, and their families want to stay here."

"It was their dream to bring up their children in America, and we think the government could offer them permanent legal status."