Peña: Undocumented Immigrants Must Await another Big Reform to Get Health Care

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By Maria Peña

WASHINGTON – Undocumented immigrants in the United States will have to wait for another big reform pending in Congress, that of immigration, to be eligible for universal medical coverage, since they are excluded from the health-care reform bill signed Tuesday by President Barack Obama.

Judging by recent statements of Republican lawmakers, immigration reform will also face an uphill fight when it reaches – if it ever does reach – the halls of Congress this year.

Most immigrant groups have hastened to praise health-care reform, signed into law with great pomp Tuesday by Obama, whose chief goal is to expand medical coverage to 32 million people.

Though the reform will benefit some 9 million Hispanics, this “historicâ€