Thread: Local services for undocumented immigrants questioned

http://www.cjonline.com/stories/121706/ ... ion3.shtml

Local services for undocumented immigrants questioned
By Tim Carpenter
The Capital-Journal

Marice Kane wants to withhold medical services from an estimated 325 undocumented immigrants served each year at Shawnee County's community health center facilities.

"The Shawnee County taxpayers are paying for things I'm not sure they should," said Kane, the Republican chairwoman of the county commission.

Anne Freeze, director of the Shawnee County Health Department, which includes management of the community health center, said cutting off services wouldn't be appropriate. The health center operates with support of a $500,000 federal grant, she said, and an evaluation of federal regulations indicates primary-care services must be provided without regard to citizenship status.

"We're a safety-net clinic," Freeze said.

She estimated 4 percent to 5 percent of patients are undocumented aliens, but that figure is based on voluntary reporting by clients. The clinic serves approximately 6,500 people annually, which means there could be 325 without authority to live in the United States.

Freeze said programs at the county's health department, as opposed to the clinic, required scrutiny of residency to be served. Some health department services are available only to county residents, while others can be accessed by any U.S. citizen.

In a handful of municipal jurisdictions across the country, elected officials have taken steps to make life uncomfortable for immigrants without legal status.

The city council in Hazleton, Pa., adopted an ordinance that imposed fines on landlords who rented to illegal immigrants and denied business permits to companies that gave them jobs.

In Canton, Ga., Cherokee County commissioners weighed an ordinance that would require all property owners to prove that their tenants lived in the county legally. A rental ban was adopted in Escondido, Calif., but a federal judge issued an injunction blocking enforcement.

The city council in Costa Mesa, Calif., authorized its police officers to begin enforcing federal immigration laws by checking the status of people suspected of being violent criminals.

Ted Ensley, a Democrat on the Shawnee County Commission, said he didn't believe local units of government should delve into immigration policy.

"I won't usurp federal responsibility," Ensley said. "It can't be addressed at the local level."

Tim Carpenter can be reached at (785) 296-3005 or timothy.carpenter@cjonline.com.

This may sound cruel but get rid of that free health care for them. It has to stop. Many Americans can't afford the care they need and citizens needs should be met before illegals. Why should Americans in some states not be allowed to claim bankrupcy or loose their homes due to health care they needed and couldn't afford but illegals get a free ride. Even tourists don't get freebies if they get sick while in the United States.

swatchick wrote:

Even tourists don't get freebies if they get sick while in the United States.

Great point!!!

Why should Americans in some states not be allowed to claim bankrupcy or loose their homes due to health care they needed and couldn't afford but illegals get a free ride.



That is one reason I am at ALIPAC.