MaxShimba
Platinum Member
- Apr 11, 2008
- 36,008
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PHOENIX -- A state legislator is moving to put Arizona's hospitals on the front line in the fight against illegal immigration.
The proposal by Rep. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, would require hospitals to "reasonably confirm" that those who show up at their doors are in the country legally if they do not produce proof of valid health insurance. HB2293 lists methods that hospital officials and employees can use to make that determination.
But the measure also says if legal status cannot be verified, someone from the hospital "must immediately contact the local federal immigration office or a local law enforcement agency to report the incident."
The legislation is drawing alarm from the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association.
"When does this begin or end?" asked Pete Wertheim, the organization's vice president of strategic communication. "What other industry should be screening their customers for citizenship verification?"
Read more: Bill would require hospitals to check immigration status
Republican State Representative Steve Smith said his goal is to find out the amount of money hospitals spend to treat undocumented immigrants. Of course, if passed it would likely dissuade undocumented immigrants from seeking health care since their presence in the emergency room would trigger a call to the cops or feds.
It will be interesting to see if Marco Rubio disqualifies himself from the Republican nomination by embracing President Obama's immigration policies. What is more likely is that they will nominate someone who caters to the anti-immigrant extremists then add Rubio to the ticket in order to show the general population that he was just kidding.
The proposal by Rep. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, would require hospitals to "reasonably confirm" that those who show up at their doors are in the country legally if they do not produce proof of valid health insurance. HB2293 lists methods that hospital officials and employees can use to make that determination.
But the measure also says if legal status cannot be verified, someone from the hospital "must immediately contact the local federal immigration office or a local law enforcement agency to report the incident."
The legislation is drawing alarm from the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association.
"When does this begin or end?" asked Pete Wertheim, the organization's vice president of strategic communication. "What other industry should be screening their customers for citizenship verification?"
Read more: Bill would require hospitals to check immigration status
Republican State Representative Steve Smith said his goal is to find out the amount of money hospitals spend to treat undocumented immigrants. Of course, if passed it would likely dissuade undocumented immigrants from seeking health care since their presence in the emergency room would trigger a call to the cops or feds.
It will be interesting to see if Marco Rubio disqualifies himself from the Republican nomination by embracing President Obama's immigration policies. What is more likely is that they will nominate someone who caters to the anti-immigrant extremists then add Rubio to the ticket in order to show the general population that he was just kidding.
