this was taken from the pittsburgh post gazette...

Death of an illegal

Monday, August 28, 2006

Noe Lopez-Vilchis, 32, an illegal alien from Mexico, died Wednesday last at Mercy Hospital after almost drowning in the Dormont Pool on the afternoon of July 20. The sense of loss by family and friends is, of course, immeasurable. Calculating the worth of a human life is impossible. The deepest condolences to all who grieve for Mr. Lopez-Vilchis.

But this profound tragedy at least can be an object lesson about the hidden cost of illegal immigration.

Citing a number of sources, the estimated costs of this incident include:

* Pool closing, $300

* Dormont police, $422

* Allegheny County detectives, $428

* Medical Rescue Team South (the ambulance), $750

* The Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh (nonsurgical critical care bed), $54,000

* Allegheny County Medical Examiner (transporting the body and autopsy), $1,540.

The total estimated cost of $57,440 will be paid directly or indirectly by the people in this region.

Taxpayers will be stuck paying for everything other than the hospital cost. And since Mercy does not expect to be reimbursed, that's $54,000 that cannot be spent to care for anyone else. Or to hire medical personnel. Or to purchase medical equipment.

Apologists for illegals argue that the lawbreaking aliens contribute more to society than what they cost. But how long would it have taken Mr. Lopez-Vilchis to earn almost $56,000, let alone pay it back?