Amnesty, and How Illegals Affect Health Care

As sent to me by someone whose career is in the medical field:
I must also respectfully disagree with your assessment that immigrants have nothing to do with what ails our health care system. The rapidly swelling population of ILLEGAL immigrants in our country is known to have a huge impact on our health care system. Unlike those who are legally admitted for permanent residence, illegal immigrants undergo no medical screening to assure that they are not bearing contagious diseases. Coming most often from countries with endemic health problems and less developed health care, illegal immigrants are responsible for a disproportionate share of serious public health problems (e.g., the resurgence of contagious diseases that had been totally or nearly eradicated by our public health system such as leprosy, pork tapeworm, TB, typhoid, guinea worm, malaria) and with close to 10 million uninsured, are often dependent on U.S. health care services. Another problem is (uninsured) immigrants’ use of hospital and emergency services rather than preventative medical care. The cost of this care is passed onto the taxpayer, and strains the financial stability of the entire health care community. Clearly, illegal immigration is not the number one problem ailing our health care system...but it is most certainly a contributing factor.... 

To be sure, it is a problem when the cost of care leaves one penniless. My statement that the vast majority of Americans are happy with their current health care situation does not mean to imply that reform is not necessary. It most certainly is -- and I believe that most Americans would agree, no matter their party leaning. The current bill, and not health care reform in general, is what is in question. Rather than overhauling the entire system at enormous risk and taxpayer cost, incremental change with a primary focus on decreasing the cost of care and providing care/coverage for those who are uninsured or underinsured is, I feel, a far safer and surer solution. When the roof needs replacing, do you tear down the whole house?
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From the Washington Times:  Mr.Obama, in a video message last weekend, told tens of thousands of immigrant rights supporters rallying on the Mall that he wants to try to get a bipartisan immigration bill passed this year that would legalize the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country.  
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ABC News reports: A bill empowering police to arrest illegal immigrants and charge them with trespassing for simply being in the state of Arizona, is likely just weeks away from becoming the toughest law of its kind anywhere in the country.

The country's toughest sheriff takes rehabilitation to new levels.

Already passed by the state's Senate and currently being reconciled with a similar version in the House, the bill would essentially criminalize the presence of the 460,000 illegal immigrants living in the state.
The measure allows police to detain people on the suspicion that they are illegal immigrants, outlaws citizens from employing day laborers, and makes it illegal for anyone to transport an illegal immigrant, even a family member, anywhere in the state.
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American Spectator, by W. James Antle, III   
[On comprehensive immigration reform, the message sent by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Sunday on Meet the Press was as follows:]
"We're real close," Schumer purred, suggesting he had come up with a magic bullet to pass an amnesty everyone will love: "[W]e have business and labor ready to sign on, we have all the religious community -- not just the liberals but the evangelicals -- we even have Lou Dobbs and Bill O'Reilly saying positive things about our proposal." The lion shall lie down with the lamb, MSNBC will lie down with Fox News.
All Schumer needs, he said, was one more Republican like Lindsey Graham. John McCain is apparently otherwise occupied, perhaps by his primary opponent former Congressman J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ). Graham pledged to do his part, vowing, "I will continue to work with Chuck on immigration." But he downplayed their prospects for success.
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