Senator,

I work in the ER at the regional trauma center in Austin. Due to the overwhelming numbers of illegal aliens that we see in our ER everyday we are going broke. Im talking hundreds a day! They are abusing the system so severely that we have had to cut costs and supplies to the point that we are soon not going to be able to provide proper care. We cannot afford to continue to provide free health care to these people. They refuse to pay a dime and expect us to provide for them. Also none of them speak English and they get angry with us as we have to wait on a Spanish interpreter to become free to help. We cannot afford to hire more interpreters. The language barrier slows and clogs the er. Something is wrong when 85-90% of our patients are illegal. We see on average 300 patients a day. Why is our government continuing to allow this to occur. Im confused. We had to cut 75 positions in the hospital and our pharmacy is now open only part time. I am not against immigration, but for it to be legal. Send these people back to Mexico. Put them in the back of the line and let them come to the U.S. legally, pay taxes, and contribute. Not take advantage. I invite you or any of your representatives to come to our hospital and see for yourself the problems that we face. I have no doubt that you will then take this problem serious. We have got to do something and it needs to be soon before our system completely fails. This is a problem that is happening to all hospitals across Texas. What do you plan to do about it? Oh yes did I mention that they are breaking existing laws. It is a felony to be in the country illegally. Did you know that in Austin the police officers are not allowed to ask about someone's citizenship status. If they do then action is taken against them. What the hell? I could go on for days. I know you know it is a problem. I want to see something done about it and that does not need to include amnesty. If you want to stay in office then get to work because I am not the only person in Texas that feels this way.

Rusty