Texas Hospital Accused Of Trying To Send Paralyzed Illegal Back To Mexico

GALVESTON, Texas (CBS Houston) — A Texas medical facility is being accused of pressuring a paralyzed illegal immigrant to return to Mexico.
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has been treating Francisco Martinez for three months since a workplace injury left him paralyzed from the chest down.

Since Martinez does not have insurance, the hospital is trying to point him back to Mexico, according to his wife. Brandi Cullen Valderram, Martinez’s wife, told KHOU-TV that UTMB has been telling them that there’s no other option but for Martinez to return to Mexico, even offering the illegal immigrant a free flight back, which he doesn’t want to accept.
The matter is a complicated one for UTMB, though not an uncommon one, frequently occurring in the border states.

“Under state and federal laws, we are obligated to provide emergency treatment without regard to citizenship, legal status or ability to pay,â€