The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on Friday, honoring the nearly 3,000 people killed and the first responders, service members and public servants who responded to the tragedy.
In a post on X, USCIS said the attacks “forever changed America” and reshaped how the country protects its homeland.
“Today, as we mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, we remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost and honor the courage of the first responders, service members, public servants, and everyday Americans who answered tragedy with bravery and resolve,” the agency said.
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USCIS said the anniversary also carries significance for its work overseeing the country’s lawful immigration system.
“At USCIS, we carry that responsibility forward by safeguarding the integrity of our lawful immigration system and serving the American people with vigilance and purpose,” the agency said.
The agency ended its message with: “We remember. We honor. We will never forget.”
The September 11, 2001, attacks killed 2,977 people when al-Qaida terrorists hijacked four commercial aircraft and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Virginia and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The attacks fundamentally altered U.S. national security, immigration and foreign policy.
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USCIS was established in 2003 as part of the Department of Homeland Security following the restructuring of the federal government after the September 11 attacks. Its responsibilities include administering the country’s lawful immigration and naturalization system.
Across the United States on Friday, communities held memorial ceremonies, moments of silence and readings of victims’ names to mark the 25th anniversary. At the National September 11 Memorial in New York, seven moments of silence were observed, including a new tribute to people who later died from illnesses linked to exposure to toxic debris after the attacks.
The anniversary has also renewed attention to the long-term consequences of September 11, including the health impact on first responders and survivors and the broader changes to U.S. security policies that followed the attacks.