Immigrant Advocates Raise Concerns for the Hospital Practice of “Medical Repatriation”

Advocates for immigration reform and immigrant rights are concerned that certain non-governmental "deportation" actions may be infringing on the health of undocumented immigrants in the United States. Attempts were made by advocacy groups to determine how many individuals were removed from the U.S. in an act which side steps any federal or state immigration regulations regarding deportation. It was found that at least 600 people were taken back to their home country after arriving at a hospital for emergency treatment within the last five years. Advocacy groups suspect that the number is actually much higher than this. In the process which was once known as "medical repatriation" an undocumented immigrant who was brought to a hospital is flown back to his or her native country. For instance, if an undocumented immigrant is seriously injured in a car accident and taken to the hospital, they may be stabilized and then flown—at hospital expense—to a hospital in their own country where they have relatives to help care for them. Make sure you have an immigration lawyer on your side if you or a loved one is facing questionable treatment.

Hospitals Try to Balance Care and Expense in Light of New Health Care Policy

Hospitals must provide emergency care to those who need it but find that they will not get funds if that individual is an illegal immigrant. The result is instances where someone comes in to a hospital in critical condition, is stabilized and then loaded onto a chartered international flight to take them to a hospital in their home country. The patient is sometimes still unconscious while this happens. An individual may sustain a severe injury near their work in the U.S. and wake up days or weeks later in a hospital in Mexico or other country where they are originally from. This is often the case for those who will need long term care or face a lengthy recovery but can't pay a U.S. hospital for it. Immigrant workers without citizenship and undocumented immigrants do not qualify for Medicaid and so hospitals feel they have little choice when it comes to following the law and also receiving funds needed to maintain operations.

Contact a Knowledgeable Immigration Attorney

If you have any questions concerning immigration, citizenship, visas, green cards, naturalization, deportation, removal or adjustment of status then contact the Law Office of Tony E. Parada right away. You deserve to have someone on your side helping you attain your legal goals!