http://www.elpasotimes.com/communities/ci_1626060

Father of desperately ill toddler may be deported
By Aileen B. Flores \ El Paso Times
Posted: 10/06/2010 12:00:00 AM MDT

ANTHONY, N.M. -- Margarito Espinoza may never talk, walk or play as his four brothers and sisters do.

But he has already overcome many obstacles at his young age.

The 2-year-old was born with multiple birth defects, including cleft palate, trisomy 8, Pierre Robin syndrome, Dandy-Walker syndrome, hydrocephalus and hydronephrosis.

When he was born, he was given two months to live.

Since then, he has gone through 17 surgeries and been hospitalized many times.

His parents, Yuriana Ortiz and Ernesto Espinoza, have been trained on how to administer his medicines and to use the equipment that keeps him alive, including a ventilator that prevents his lungs from filling with fluid.

And even though Margarito has fought to survive his and his family's future is uncertain.

On Sep. 8, Border Patrol agents detained his father at a gas station in Anthony, N.M., because he could not prove his legal status in the United States.

He now faces deportation to Mexico.

Espinoza is the only provider for the family. He worked for a landscape company until he was detained.

"I think my kids have had enough stress and they don't need to think that they're going to lose one or both of their parents at a time," Ortiz said. "But please think about my son Margarito. He is in a life-or-death situation."

She said Margarito would not survive if the family moved back to Mexico.

Both Espinoza and Ortiz were brought to the United States by their parents when they were children and are in the country illegally.

Leslie Trich, a family friend, said she also fears that Margarito will die if his father is deported. "Mom can't stay with him 24-seven. This is a humanity case," Trich said.

An immigration judge may decide next week whether Espinoza can remain in the country.

Patricia Gutierrez, a legal assistant for immigration lawyer Ray Gutierrez, said Gutierrez will try to get a cancellation of removal for Espinoza because Margarito may not survive if the family moves to Mexico.

"He has no criminal record and he is the only provider for the family," she said.

If the cancellation is granted, the attorney will try to find a way to keep Espinoza in the country to allow for his child's care.
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Although I have compassion for the the family and their sick little boy, I shudder to think that just how much we the taxpayers have paid for his treatment. I thought that not long ago Calderon had claimed that Mexico had the best medical care in the world so why do people like this have to come to the United States for care?
My husband and I went some 15 years without medical insurance because even though he worked fill time for the government, he was classified as part time at that time. I had to go to the hospital under emergency circumstances back then and the hospital refused to even let me in the door because we didn't have insurance. They forced me to pay them $500 up front to be able to get in. It's my impression that illegals are NEVER turned away. That really stinks.