Illegal Alien- frustrated!

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Specializes in Tele, Infectious Disease, OHN.

Please don't flame me. This is the only place I can comw to to vent and get some ideas on how to get myself back on track. I work with people who are immunosuppressed. I have a particular client who is receiving lots of money in health care and medication as well as assistance with rent and utilities. She is hispanic, provided a Socical Security number and a signed supporter statement from her husband. Now it turns out husband is undocumented and their income comes from him fixing cars off the books. They have not filed a tax return EVER. This family also receives almost $400.00 a month in food stamps plus a few hundred in WIC. My problem? It hacks me off that they are getting all these benefits and don't pay taxes. It makes me feel like a bad person but it is really hacking me off. Every time I turn around there is this client with their hand out. They have this letter written in Spanish that says "I so an so make such and such each month". This has been taken by not only our agency but others as well. We would not even think about taking such a document from a Caucasian or African American person. I certainly do not want someone to go without help but it aggravates me when I have to assist this person at the expense of the next one, who might be a citizen! I am sure other nurses deal with this. I am looking for a good way of thinking about this. Thanks!

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A few years ago I floated to oncology. The care coordinator was working on discharging a man who was going to receive a new cancer treatment that was over a thousand dollars a month.

He filled out an application for assistance that the company provided honestly.

Unfortunatly, the guy mentioned that he owned property, so he was ineligible for the assistance. (unlike the family in your post who know who to work the system!)

We should all learn the tricks around the system these people use to gain access to free stuff! Only, we have self respect and couldn't feel comfortable doing so!

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Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.

This gets me just as mad, when people who dont pay taxes get government assistance. This should be illegal and in my opinion they should be deported asap. It may sound harsh but we have to take care of citizens first and once citizens have all the could possible need, then maybe illegals can get some free help. Please dont flame me but i dont want to see my tax dollars not spent on citizens. I believe this along with our countries education system will be the reason for the US fall from grace.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I agree. We should take care of our American citizens first.

Does anyone remember the 17-year old illegal immigrant, Jesica Santilan, who received organ transplantation in 2003? It was big news because a major medical error was made during the surgical procedure. I felt bad that she was so sick, but those organs should have gone to a deserving American first.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

To the OP: How did you come upon this information? Is it common knowledge? It sounds like fraud to me. If the person is using a phoney SS# or other documentation, then it seems to me that agency/agencies should be notified.

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Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.
I agree. We should take care of our American citizens first.

Does anyone remember the 17-year old illegal immigrant, Jesica Santilan, who received organ transplantation in 2003? It was big news because a major medical error was made during the surgical procedure. I felt bad that she was so sick, but those organs should have gone to a deserving American first.

I totally thought the same thing when it happend!

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I had a patient, on Medi-Cal (similar to Medicaid but in California) drive to my office in a $40,000 pick-up truck and proceed to complain that he was going to have to share with his ex-wife the cost of selling his house (over $250,000) and he only has to pay a $1 co-pay to see the doctor.

Or how about the woman who comes in smelling like a $5 pack of cigarettes who wants an RX for over the counter meds because if the doctor writes an Rx for it she gets it for free from the government. Its just going to happen. You do not have to like it. I see it every day and nothing is done about it. Sadly it makes the people who really need assistance look bad also.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
I am looking for a good way of thinking about this. Thanks!

Well ask yourself, "why am I focusing so much mental and emotional energy worrying about these people who for all intents and purposes are in a worse position than myself? I have the freedom and the means to provide for myself and my family, I do not have to wait for a handout, I do not have to live in fear of being separated from my family if I am deported, and most importantly I have my health."

I, like any person, have struggled with resentment and jealousy at times but I can honestly say I have never resented the sick and the poor. It's not as though I would want to change places with them. You stated that you are assisting this person at the expense of others. Well it doesn't work like that, so the next thing you need to do is get that thought out of your head.

And finally if counting your blessings and having some compassion doesn't work, then try to channel your frustration towards others who deserve it. Take corporate welfare for instance. Big corporations receive billions in subsidies; is it fair that you should have to support Chevron, Halliburton, and WalMart? Or what about pork barrel projects? Alaska's $200 million "bridge to nowhere"? That makes me far angrier than my tax dollars helping sick, hungry people eat.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
I agree. We should take care of our American citizens first.

Does anyone remember the 17-year old illegal immigrant, Jesica Santilan, who received organ transplantation in 2003? It was big news because a major medical error was made during the surgical procedure. I felt bad that she was so sick, but those organs should have gone to a deserving American first.

So Americans are more deserving of a chance at life than other nationalities? If there is one thing Americans are good at, it is taking care of themselves first even if it is at the expense of others.

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So Americans are more deserving of a chance at life than other nationalities? If there is one thing Americans are good at, it is taking care of themselves first even if it is at the expense of others.

No, not at all, but people who are illegal should not be receiving all the benefits of those who are here legally or are citizens. I work in a CA ER. I am so tired of having illegals come in with several Medi-Cal cards in different names, and they are all for the same person. Remember the law that was passed a few years back about turning in illegals? ER's are not allowed to do that because of the chance of someone needing emergent care and being afraid to get it because of this law.

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Specializes in PICU, Nurse Educator, Clinical Research.

America's first responsibility is to take care of Americans. Mexico's first responsibility is to take care of Mexicans.

It's not working that way, and I completely empathise with the OP.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
America's first responsibility is to take care of Americans. Mexico's first responsibility is to take care of Mexicans.

It's not working that way, and I completely empathise with the OP.

I do to agree.

But I have also seen the other side. I spend two weeks in the slums of Mexicali giving free medical and dental care. These people have NOTHING. They defecate in holes dug in their back yards.When one fills up, they cover it and move the shack of an out house to another spot. No electricity or running water. I helped with laundry by washing clothes in some ones front yard with a well crank, bucket and cement wash board. Horrible sewer systems which stinks up the whole town and runs into the creeks that the children play in. I pulled all of the teeth out of an older gentleman's head, most of which were stubs, because the dentist could not use a drill to fill the cavities with out electricity. Dentures were the next best thing, he who was so fortunate.

I too get angry when people who are here illegally who do not pay taxes but get special breaks and free stuff. Its hard enough knowing my tax money goes to Americans sitting on their butts who are perfectly capable enough to get a job but are "too good" for jobs that many illegals do. If there was only a way for these people (illegals) to work legally and pay taxes I would see it differently. As irritated as I get when people hold up the line because their food stamps do not cover all that is in their cart (deciding what they really need)or I am reminded about illegal aliens taking what is meant for Americans (some of who are even less deservings), I just thank God that I was born in America and that I don't have to sit in a welfare office and buy stuff with food stamps. And yet I drive on by and try not to look at the man on the corner with the sign.

If only a perfect world.

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