[mercyteapot]

I'll believe it when I see it. The vast majority of these costs have always been absorbed by the states with the most undocumented immigrants, and it really should be a national responsibility. Being in a border area, this issue gets frequent discussion.

[stevierae]

Originally Posted by BeachNurse

But who has paid? The hospital pays, in the form of giving free care (write-off). This states that government funds would pay. That's the difference. I agree we need to treat the illegal immigrants--this way the care would be PAID for.

True. I saw a special on TV once, and I believe it was about that hospital where the late President John F. Kennedy was taken and pronounced dead when he was assasinated. The name escapes me, right now.

But, anyway, it was about how they had more high risk births than any other hospital in the nation, and many of the moms were illegal aliens from Mexico who came to the U.S right near term having had absolutely no prenatal care, and literally showed up on the doorstep of their high risk prenatal clinic. I wonder how they even knew about it, unless they had relatives and freinds from back home who had done the exact same thing? Of course, now that the baby would be born here, the baby would be a U.S citizen, and I guess the family could stay.

But the program went on--it was a documentary of this one high risk illegal mom who, on her first ultrasound at this prenatal clinic (indeed, her first prenatal visit in her life) it was discovered that she had multiple fetuses. A staggering amount of money was spent to hospitalize her at that moment and plan for a team to deliver these multiple babies by C-section when the time came, (something like 6 weeks later) and I am certain they were all cared for in the hospital's NICU afterwards. Of course, this was all courtesy of U.S. taxpayers.

I don't know what the solution is. There are times that I listen to Michael Savage and believe all he says about protecting our "Borders, Language and Culture." There are other times when my liberalism kicks in and I feel that, if those poor illegals can make it across the border, more power to them. In fact, I was driving across the desert from San Diego, headed to Brawley, CA, and on the way back I was hoping that I would run across a caravan of illegals, so that I could stash them ion my trunk and get them safey across the checkpoint. Would that have been wise? No, but I feel for any human being or animal that is out in the desert, without food or water, (they have been known to drink the water that is in tanks for overheated radiators, perhaps not being able to read Spanish, let alone English, warning against the practice) trying despearately to seek a better life.

I'd rather pay taxes, I think, for hard working people coming here illegally to seek a better life for their families than I would for lazy citizens who would defraud or even depend on welfare and carelessly have one baby after another----by multiple deadbeat or even unknown dads--rather than work for a living or acquire some career skills.

[mercyteapot]

Originally Posted by stevierae

True. I saw a special on TV once, and I believe it was about that hospital where the late President John F. Kennedy was taken and pronounced dead when he was assasinated. The name escapes me, right now.

But, anyway, it was about how they had more high risk births than any other hospital in the nation, and many of the moms were illegal aliens from Mexico who came to the U.S right near term having had absolutely no prenatal care, and literally showed up on the doorstep of their high risk prenatal clinic. I wonder how they even knew about it, unless they had relatives and freinds from back home who had done the exact same thing? Of course, now that the baby would be born here, the baby would be a U.S citizen, and I guess the family could stay.

But the program went on--it was a documentary of this one high risk illegal mom who, on her first ultrasound at this prenatal clinic (indeed, her first prenatal visit in her life) it was discovered that she had multiple fetuses. A staggering amount of money was spent to hospitalize her at that moment and plan for a team to deliver these multiple babies by C-section when the time came, (something like 6 weeks later) and I am certain they were all cared for in the hospital's NICU afterwards. Of course, this was all courtesy of U.S. taxpayers.

I don't know what the solution is. There are times that I listen to Michael Savage and believe all he says about protecting our "Borders, Language and Culture." There are other times when my liberalism kicks in and I feel that, if those poor illegals can make it across the border, more power to them. In fact, I was driving across the desert from San Diego, headed to Brawley, CA, and on the way back I was hoping that I would run across a caravan of illegals, so that I could stash them ion my trunk and get them safey across the checkpoint. Would that have been wise? No, but I feel for any human being or animal that is out in the desert, without food or water, (they have been known to drink the water that is in tanks for overheated radiators, perhaps not being able to read Spanish, let alone English, warning against the practice) trying despearately to seek a better life.

I'd rather pay taxes, I think, for hard working people coming here illegally to seek a better life for their families than I would for lazy citizens who would defraud or even depend on welfare and carelessly have one baby after another----by multiple deadbeat or even unknown dads--rather than work for a living or acquire some career skills.

Actually, the baby is a citizen, so they can legally stay, but the family can't (of course, many times they stay illegally). I would support legalizing much more immigration than is allowed currently. I don't consider that "liberal", I consider it good common sense. They are the backbone of California agriculture. I sure don't want to take a job stooped over picking strawberries or tomatoes all day, or work in a chicken processing plant. The tourism industry needs someone to clean all those hotel rooms, and you're not going to find many Americans willing to do it for the wee bit of money they make for doing it. Politicians who rally against illegal immigration but employ undocumented housekeepers and gardeners are such hypocrites.

[sunnyjohn]

Originally Posted by stevierae

True. I saw a special on TV once, and I believe it was about that hospital where the late President John F. Kennedy was taken and pronounced dead when he was assasinated. The name escapes me, right now.

But, anyway, it was about how they had more high risk births than any other hospital in the nation, and many of the moms were illegal aliens from Mexico who came to the U.S right near term having had absolutely no prenatal care, and literally showed up on the doorstep of their high risk prenatal clinic. I wonder how they even knew about it, unless they had relatives and freinds from back home who had done the exact same thing? Of course, now that the baby would be born here, the baby would be a U.S citizen, and I guess the family could stay.

But the program went on--it was a documentary of this one high risk illegal mom who, on her first ultrasound at this prenatal clinic (indeed, her first prenatal visit in her life) it was discovered that she had multiple fetuses. A staggering amount of money was spent to hospitalize her at that moment and plan for a team to deliver these multiple babies by C-section when the time came, (something like 6 weeks later) and I am certain they were all cared for in the hospital's NICU afterwards. Of course, this was all courtesy of U.S. taxpayers.

I don't know what the solution is. There are times that I listen to Michael Savage and believe all he says about protecting our "Borders, Language and Culture." There are other times when my liberalism kicks in and I feel that, if those poor illegals can make it across the border, more power to them. In fact, I was driving across the desert from San Diego, headed to Brawley, CA, and on the way back I was hoping that I would run across a caravan of illegals, so that I could stash them ion my trunk and get them safey across the checkpoint. Would that have been wise? No, but I feel for any human being or animal that is out in the desert, without food or water, (they have been known to drink the water that is in tanks for overheated radiators, perhaps not being able to read Spanish, let alone English, warning against the practice) trying despearately to seek a better life.

I'd rather pay taxes, I think, for hard working people coming here illegally to seek a better life for their families than I would for lazy citizens who would defraud or even depend on welfare and carelessly have one baby after another----by multiple deadbeat or even unknown dads--rather than work for a living or acquire some career skills.

It's Parkland Hospital in Dallas, in my opinion , one of the best hospitals in the country. Not much to look at, but great care.

Most years they have the most births of any hospital in the country. They also have a world famous burn unit and trauma service. They do serve a huge immigrant population.

No, the family cannot stay because of the birth of a baby. The child must be 18 in order to petition for the immigration of the parent. There are many cases of parents being deported even though they have US born children (under 18).The baby is a citizen though, and does get the rights that go along with that.

[MacNurse]

Thank goodness I live in Canada

[fergus51]

Originally Posted by MacNurse

Thank goodness I live in Canada

You may not be aware of it, but there are similar issues in Canada. I worked with MANY self-paying patients in Vancouver and many illegal immigrants in Toronto. It takes a certain amount of time and paperwork before people are covered under most provincial health plans.

[stevierae]

Originally Posted by sunnyjohn

It's Parkland Hospital in Dallas, in my opinion , one of the best hospitals in the country. Not much to look at, but great care.

Most years they have the most births of any hospital in the country. They also have a world famous burn unit and trauma service. They do serve a huge immigrant population.

No, the family cannot stay because of the birth of a baby. The child must be 18 in order to petition for the immigration of the parent. There are many cases of parents being deported even though they have US born children (under 18).The baby is a citizen though, and does get the rights that go along with that.

Yes, I saw that on the TV special---the high risk prenatal clinic and the team that was assembled to deliver the babies when the time came were obviously top notch. I am sure everybody who works in those areas at Parkland is. You could tell they had a great deal of pride in their mission. They could set the standard for high risk births everywhere; perhaps they do.

I wonder if Parkland has issues with understaffing? That's the type of hospital--one that serves a huge indigent population, in addition to their own self-paying or insured community---that needs a safe staffing law (minimum RN to patient ratios) as we have in CA.

[stevierae]

Originally Posted by sunnyjohn

It's Parkland Hospital in Dallas, in my opinion , one of the best hospitals in the country. Not much to look at, but great care.

Most years they have the most births of any hospital in the country. They also have a world famous burn unit and trauma service. They do serve a huge immigrant population.

No, the family cannot stay because of the birth of a baby. The child must be 18 in order to petition for the immigration of the parent. There are many cases of parents being deported even though they have US born children (under 18).The baby is a citizen though, and does get the rights that go along with that.

So, what happens to the baby if the parents are to be deported? Do the parents just go back to Mexico (courtesy of the INS) with the baby? Does the baby, now a U.S. citiczen, get assigned a civil rights or immigration law attorney (also courtesy of the U.S. taxpayers, of course) to protect his right to stay here? Does the process start immediately (I mean, do the parents get reported to the INS by the hospital?) and does INS show up at the hospital, ready to start deportation proceedings? This is really interesting; please share your experiences of what you have seen unfold.

[Katnip]

In Maryland we see illegals fly here, have their babies, then take their babies home with them.

When the child is 18, they move to the U.S. as citizens, then bring their parents here. Thus, the parents still get to come here legally and spend their midlife and old age in more comfort than they would in their home country.

[sunnyjohn]

Originally Posted by stevierae

So, what happens to the baby if the parents are to be deported? Do the parents just go back to Mexico (courtesy of the INS) with the baby? Does the baby, now a U.S. citiczen, get assigned a civil rights or immigration law attorney (also courtesy of the U.S. taxpayers, of course) to protect his right to stay here? Does the process start immediately (I mean, do the parents get reported to the INS by the hospital?) and does INS show up at the hospital, ready to start deportation proceedings? This is really interesting; please share your experiences of what you have seen unfold.

Either the parent finds an adult with legal status in the US to keep the child, or they take the child back to Mexico with them. The law is pretty clear on it.

Hospitals rarely report to INS. Hospital social workers are usually too overloaded with abuse cases to report immigration violations.

You may get a person in the hospital who takes it upon themselves to report the situation to INS, but they are so swamped with cases that no one from INS would show up in time to do anything.

If they reported every undocumented immigrant who came through Parkland, the hospital would be empty.

For the record, I have never worked at Parkland as a social worker. I am familiar with immigration issues through past work experience and education.