Not treating illegal immigrants is a public health menace.

[alarimer]

And, in my opinion, it is extremely inhumane.

Imagine turning away someone with swine flu, for instance. Or, worse, some other highly contagious disease like tuberculosis. This sets up a scenario in which some highly contagious person is loose among the population, probably leading to more infections and possibly out of control epidemics. Do we really want this? If they end up at the emergency room, chances are the hospital has to eat the bill without hope of compensation for it. Or they are faced with turning away sick or injured people, which is just horribly inhumane in my opinion.

Of course if we had truly universal health care, this would not be an issue.

I am not overly impressed with Obama's continuing attempts to kowtow to Republican shitheads in this and in other matters. Who cares what the party of no thinks. They can go to hell as far as I am concerned.

[SheilaT]

1. They will still get treated.

Plus, many of them get Medicaid or other charity. They will still go to emergency rooms.

But I agree, they should be treated like everyone else. This is why we need universal health care, as you clearly understand.

It's along the lines of not letting them driver's licenses. As if that's going to keep them from driving. No, it keeps them from driving legally and from getting insurance.

[Justitia]

4. correction: "illegal immigrants" DO NOT receive Medicaid. -eom

[arbusto_baboso]

8. Correct, they do not get MedicAid. OR welfare cash aid benefits.

The CHILDREN of illegal aliens who were born in the United States and are therefore CITIZENS get this kind of assistance.

[enid602]

15. Cuban doctors

If we can´t afford (or don´t wish) to provide healthcare for these people, why don´t we permit Cuban doctors to come in to help them?

[stray cat]

2. You will still pay for them to get treated just like you currently do

they just won't be covered by insurance

[treestar]

3. True. They are here.

We let them build up in huge numbers and don't deport them. Well, we don't want to pay higher prices for lettuce.

then blame them for every conceivable problem. I am sick of people blaming them for everything. That's Lou Dobbs and his insanity.

[Lance_Boyle]

5. Treat 'em to an immediate deportation,

and maybe a facemask to wear 'til they get there.

[Donnachaidh]

9. oh goodie -- then they won't attempt to get healthcare at all

So when the first epidemic hits because a human being was too scared to go because of *immediate deportation*, can we blame YOU for the deaths? Can the parents who lose children to oh, let's say something that is already working -- SWINE FLU, because of someone not going in to get help - sue YOU?

Jesus Christ people -- do you realize how vicious this country has become? These people are HERE. They've probably worked for a few of your neighbors (off the books, of course).

It's shameful. PERIOD.

[Dappleganger]

6. They are here and need to be dealt with.

[Hepburn]

7. So much better for them to run around untreated with 3rd world problems like TB.

This bullshit over NO medical care for an illegal is totally shortsighted.

Treat them and deport them...but, holy shit, treat them and make sure there is not some new Typhoid Mary running about.

Sheesh...

[Solly Mack]

12. Exactly. It protects everyone.

and it is the humane thing to do.

[Hepburn]

13. I totally agree with your statement that it is the right thing to do.

I cannot imagine leaving a sick two-year-old to suffer because his mother and/or father are here illegally and he/she was not born in the US. To allow that to take place would be immoral as all hell.

:hi:

[mimitabby]

10. thank you for speaking up on this

so Lance, or whatever your name is; imagine there is a human being there on the street. They just had a (fill in the blank; heart attack, broke their leg; are having an appendicitis attack, you name it). You are going to throw them into a truck and drive them to Mexico? Do you really believe that this is the humane/civilized thing to do? What would Jesus do? (if you're a christian)
That person, whether or not he/she speaks english, has white skin, is a citizen, whatever; deserves to be treated with the same respect as any other person. How could you NOT call 911, ask them if they are ok, and expect the local hospital to take care of them?

[The Traveler]

11. Respectfully disagree

Though not a popular viewpoint around here, I believe we must obtain control over our borders. Uncontrolled immigration must inevitably imply uncontrolled growth on the demands placed on public resources ... including health care, social services, transportation infrastructure, and energy supplies. It is a practical matter, and I no longer consider it a debatable point, especially given the migratory pressures climate change is likely to produce in the near future.

Now, what is debatable are questions like these: "What constitutes an acceptable immigration policy? Can we admit 2 million/year? 10 million? What is an acceptable rate of population growth due to immigration?" Lots of room for discussion there ... and we haven't even gotten into the matter of normalizing the residency of illegal immigrants who have lived here, built productive lives here, and brought children forth on our soil. Do we really want to kick those folk out? As a general policy, I think that inhumane and for very practical reasons unwise. I do, however, believe their status must be normalized. Once their status has been normalized, access to health care benefits under this plan is achieved. (Of course, normalization of their status would also demand their chipping into the health care system ... and that is fair.)

If we directly couple these two issues, as you suggest, health care reform will come off the rails. That is the political reality ... and frankly I understand it.

And while it is inhumane to turn away the illegal immigrant who has been wounded or become sick, reality imposes limits on our ability to act humanely. We lack the economic power to accomplish what you suggest with any consistency ... unless we are willing to significantly deprive or burden the average American to cover those costs. Years of regulatory neglect, tax breaks for the richest, idiotic trade policies, etc. have left us in a seriously weakened condition. We need to repair that damage and begin growing strong again before we can even consider largess of that magnitude.

Trav

[mimitabby]

14. we're not talking about control over our borders

There will always be illegal immigrants, even with the best controlled borders in the world. Once they're here; for whatever reason...
that's what we're talking about.