Monday, September 28, 2009

Liberals seek health-care access for illegals

9 comments:

heckler said...

I still don't understand why these illegals are not deported or detained as soon as they are identified as illegals. If someone walks into a hospital without proper identification, deport him/her; it's really that simple.

Holly said...

I'm similarly confused...however for some reason that's not happening. What IS happening is the influx of illegals without any coverage into our emergency rooms at our own personal costs as taxpayers. If we let them buy private plans...they probably wouldn't, first of all, since they probably couldnt afford it, but if they DID then they'd be paying for thier healthcare instead of us...right? If that's correct...what's the problem there? It seems to me it'd be an attempt at trying to be responsible and to everyone's benefit?

Andre said...

Well, there are laws in place saying they forst have to be treated regardless of citizenship status.

And what incentive do illegals have to buy health care when they probably can't afford it, and we are footing the bill anyways? Correct answer: there isnt one..

heckler said...

Illegals have been breaking the law from the moment they entered the country. Most work illegally and live illegally. It won't be that tough, technically or morally, for them to get healthcare illegally.

And those laws that say they must be treated regardless of documentation is one of the problems with immigration policy. Also, even if these laws don't change, fix the arm and then deport. Unfortunately, the government knows about most, if not all, the illegal immigrants who directly benefit from tax payers' money and yet they will still walk out of the hospital straight to a rally where they will call for their parents, cousins, and 20 other family members to be allowed into the U.S. as well.

Andre said...

Ayush, I agree with you in principle, but it's really not that simple. What about an ilegal who needs a lifesaving surgery that will require extended medical care and observation? Are we to turn them away but fix "broken arms"? A lot of this problem could be solved if we toughened our borders, addressing the problem at its source...

evan said...

Andre, then the problem of the people who are here already remains unsolved.

If you all really believe in "the law" in this abstract sense--that "as soon as they are identified as illegals" they should be deported--well, first of all, what about due process? Don't they get a trial to determine whether or not they've violated our laws on immigration? And secondly, if "violating the law" is as simple as doing something that contravenes the law, should the government go rushing into Utica-area ER rooms and arresting kids who drank too much, because they obviously violated the law? Are people who smoke marijuana de facto criminals simply through their action?

No! We have a criminal justice system that treats everyone as innocent until proven guilty. And if the state cannot prove that an individual is here, in violation of immigration law, he has every right to be here.

The burden of proof is, and always will be, on the state to enforce its laws.

heckler said...

Andre, I completely agree, the problem is at Mexican border where if we were strict enough to begin with, these illegals would not be causing all these problems now. Unfortunately, we still haven't fixed the border so the millions of Mexicans continue to stream in and continue to get free healthcare. Wonderful.

And Evan, I don't know how you can defend this illegals; they come into this country, cheat the system, and keep real immigrants who can actually contribute in a positive way out. When an underage teen drinks alcohol, he/she is committing a crime and if caught, deserves the punishment given out. In most cases, there is not trial or jury to prove that on December 13th at 9:30 pm, this teen was under the influence of alcohol. Instead, they are given a ticket and forced to pay a fine. On the same token, if an illegal is found to be an illegal immmigrant, they should pay the fine, which should be deportation.

heckler said...

There would be an appearance at court, where a judge would decide upon your punishment. I guess that qualifies as a trial but there aren't juries or anything like that. I should have been more specific when I meant trial. Also isn't there only a trial if you challenge something like that? Cause in the case of a parking ticket, you can pay that at the local government center without trial or anything. However, if you want to challenge, then it goes to court.

evan said...

That's because you plead out in traffic court. All accused immigrants would be entitled to a full jury trial under the law.