Thread: Plan Could Make Public Health Employees 'immigration Law

Published: February 09,2009
County Budget Plan Could Make Public Health Employees 'immigration Law

Sacramento County health employees could be forced to act as immigration law enforcers - and the health of the public may be at risk - under a budget proposal to be considered Tuesday by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, warned the local chapter of American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) today.

News Briefing: The ACLU/Sacramento County Chapter will hold a short briefing for the press Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., outside the Board of Supervisors meeting room (700 H St.), shortly before the proposal will be discussed by the Board.

In a letter (available upon request) to the Board Monday, the ACLU said it "strongly opposes" changing eligibility requirements for the County Medically Indigent Services Program to require documentation of U.S. citizenship before people could be treated.

"While we recognize economic conditions have placed severe budget pressures on the county, reacting by denying medical services to some non-citizens is both constitutionally problematic and bad public health policy," said the ACLU, urging the board to "reject this proposal and find another way to address the county's serious budget problems."

"By excluding non-citizens from this type of care, this proposal seriously endangers public health. Non-citizens would be denied essential preventive services, like vaccinations, that are designed to keep us ALL safe. During potentially dangerous outbreaks, it is in the interest of the general public to make sure that prevention and treatment are available to everyone," wrote the ACLU.

The ACLU also noted "this supposed cost cutting measure will most likely result in higher costs for the people of the county" because if needed treatment is delayed the medical conditions will require more "costlier emergency care" later.


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http://newsblaze.com/story/200902091743 ... story.html

They tried this in 1994 when Proposition 187 passed by California voters. Included were provisions similar to this that would have denied benefits to illegals. As you might have guessed the Anti-Civil Liberty Union won then and most likely will prevail this time.

[code]In a letter (available upon request) to the Board Monday, the ACLU said it "strongly opposes" changing eligibility requirements for the County Medically Indigent Services Program to require documentation of U.S. citizenship before people could be treated.
[quote]

The aclu could pick up the tab for the medical costs.