Jamaican lady who recently died tragically in emergency room: What was her immigration status?

We were all sickened by how that poor woman from Jamaica recently died in the psychiatric hospital waiting room in New York City.

1. She was from Jamaica: I read on the web that she was 49 years old and was an immigrant from Jamaica.

2. 6 children: I think she had 6 children who she left back in Jamaica.
The youngest, I believe, was 14 years old.

3. Work history: I read that she recently lost her job in a day care center.
Stress caused by losing this job may have been the reason she started acting erractically and was sent to the psychiatric hospital.

4. Just wondering: What was her immigration status?

5. It looks like she did not have any special skills that were needed in the United States.

6. If someone here can help me to understand how and why this poor 49 year old woman---who seemed to lack special work skills and who may have had mental problems back in Jamaica---was allowed to immigrate to the United States, I would appreciate it.