One of the many issues with this health care debate is that what do we do with the illegal immigrants? In an article publishes Setpember 28,2009 in the Baltimore Sun titled, "Bishop Linked Illegal Immigrants, Abortion" health care reform for illegal immigrants is favored by many Catholic bishops because by leaving the illegal immigrants out we are sayig that we are not a just country for all people. Many U.S. bishops in fact are speaking out and expressing their opinions saying that being the richest country in the world, the U.S. should find a way for everyone within its borders to have accesss to medical care ("from conception to natural death"). They argue that there has to be some kinda of safety net for all the 12 million illegal immigrants in this country.
This article argues that anyone should have access to emerergnecy medical care. If this is the case, then why not offer illegal immigrants medical care in case of an emergency, treat them, and then deport them? Is this right? They are breaking the law by being here so is it right to deport them after they receieve medical care?
Bishop William F. Murphy states, "How can we say that we're a country of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for all who come to our shores if we say, 'except the unborn.' Or, if we say, 'except the handicapped.' Or, if we say, 'except the new person." Although this is a good argument the bishops to make, how can we U.S. citizens pay taxes for people who live here illegally and break the law every day for being here illegally so they can have access to health care? So many (documented) immigrants go through so much to be able to live here or establish citizenship so they can have the same rights as everyone else and then there are the immigrants who cross our borders illegally and are dishonest and want to take advantage of a system that they technically do not have any right to. How is this fair?
This is a very controversial issue, and I simply want to ask that people look at this issue from both ways: fro the bishops point of view and from an opposing point of view. If we make the public option available to illegal immigrants, are we simply saying "Hey come on over, legally or illegally, you can use our health care! We do not care if you are breaking our laws"? If not, then what are we saying? Where do we draw the line?
I feel that illegal immigrants should have the basic liberties that any person should have in receiving health care in emergencies, but no illegal immigrant would ever even think of getting emergency medical attention if it meant that they would be deported back to their host country. If they migrated here illegally that means they risked their life to come here and they would not go seek medical attention if that meant they were to be deported.
ReplyDeleteI think that basic medical care should be a human right, not necessarily one based on citizenship to a specific country. During times of severe medical disparities, which is a situation almost every human being will find themselves in at some point in their life, going to the hospital or clinic should be a given. All people, regardless of their country allegiance, should have this access. Just as I feel that any American visiting another country should be allowed to see a doctor if necessary, so to should the immigrants, both legal and illegal, here in this country. The issue of illegal immigration is one that needs to be addressed, but not by compromising health care.
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