Home » Immigration » Articles » Protecting us from ourselves; should undocumented immigrants receive public health care?

The philosophy that undocumented aliens shouldn’t receive health coverage has it merits, yet in practical application, needs to be amended.

One one hand, there is a point of view that undocumented aliens should not receive publicly funded health assistance. Socioecoconomic efficiency demands that there be some type of cycle, that a drain to the universal healthcare system are a class of people who do not contribute to public revenues and who are present in the United States without proper documentation.

Even going one step further, one might argue that private insurance should not be available to undocumented aliens, who may unfairly burden our healthcare system. I’ve heard the argument that a US born senior citizen who needs medical assistance should not have to wait in line behind an undocumented alien with public, private, or even no health insurance.

In many ways, this position makes sense, but there are other considerations, much more widespread.

If we knowingly deny health coverage within our own society, to people we share our streets and supermarkets with, don’t we increase our exposure to contagious ailments?

Let’s fast forward the hypothetical clock.

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Its 2015 and a five year old universal health plan is in effect in the United States.  Since its inception in 2010, tweaks were made to the laws as the socio-legislative pendulum shifted from left to right.   A recent adjustment to this plan specifically cuts out undocumented immigrants by giving hospitals access to a digital identification database which is administered by Homeland Security.  If someone comes in to a hospital without proper Identification, they will be turned away.

Sean Shamrock was brought in to the United States four years ago at age 13 by his parents, who were members of a politically motivated social group in Ireland.  Due to an unforeseen shift in political emotion in Ireland, they felt their membership in that group put a target on their back. They fled to the United States with their son Sean, and applied to the United States for the protection of political asylum – but were denied.

By the year 2015, Sean is 17 years old and has has remained in the United States without proper documentation. He can’t return home as the political climate has not changed and his family remains a target.  He can’t find a job because he doesn’t have proper status.  He finds himself sick one day, undernourished, and makes his way to the hospital.  He is unable to present proper Identification, so he is denied.

Sean has contracted the highly contagious and volatile 2015 evolution of the H1N1 virus (Goat flu).  He lives in New York City and relies on public transportation. Because the United States Congress chose not to provide aid to undocumented aliens, Sean Shamrock in one day will pass the 2015 H1N1 virus to thousands of US Citizens, Green Card holders, and travelers who may bring the virus to a new country, city or township.

He may even pass the virus along to other undocumented aliens who will be turned away.

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This is a fictional situation which seems extreme but is not far-fetched and should invite questions. It is one first-level counter argument to the notion that undocumented aliens should be turned away from hospitals. Its also a signal that the administration of contagion is more important than trying to mesh Immigration status administration with health care administration.

Health coverage IS the protection of our borders – from the inside out.

I anticipate that our communities will continue to debate this issue. I think that this circumstance is thought provoking, and I’ve heard some other interesting arguments on both sides.

In favor of providing care to undocumented aliens;

  • “What if an undocumented alien mother is giving birth to a United States citizen? Should she be denied health care, and at what point?”
  • “Does a contagious ailment need to reach the level of a pandemic emergency for an undocumented alien to be seen by a medical professional?”
  • “Is it ever ethically acceptable to turn a human away from the Emergency Room?”

Some counter arguments from the Immigration policy and economic side;

  • “If they don’t have proper Identification they should be deported or at least quarantined if there is a pandemic.”
  • “If Homeland Security was enforcing the law this wouldn’t be a problem.”
  • “I can barely put food on my table – I shouldn’t have to foot the bill for undocumented immigrants to see a Doctor.”

Its a very interesting topic for my practice as an Immigration attorney, and sometimes I’ll find myself debating social issues with my own clients. We usually agree that in a country built through immigration, health coverage must not increase the divide that currently separates one status from another.