Dying Man’s Plight Poses Dilemma
The case of Fernando Pedrosa underscores the tough choices we face concerning the illegal immigration issue. Let me commend the Los Angeles Times for including in the story about Fernando my revelations that he had received well over $250,000 of medical treatment paid for by the taxpayers.
Fernando Pedrosa (was) most likely a wonderful person. Few of us would act any differently if we were in his shoes. Nevertheless, he (was) an illegal entrant into our country, and if we provide him and all other illegal immigrants hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer-funded medical services, it will bankrupt our state. Furthermore, if we are so foolish, every sick and poor person in the world will be doing their utmost to get here.
It’s tough to look a human being in the eye and say, “We can’t pay for your medical bills.” If we don’t have the courage to do so when the person is a foreigner who has come here illegally, we will soon be forced to say no to our citizens and legal residents. All the funds will be gone.
That’s the decision we’ve got to make. Democracy is the best, but it’s not the easiest.
Rep. DANA ROHRABACHER
R-Huntington Beach
Editor’s note: Fernando Pedrosa died Feb. 18 before his mother arrived from El Salvador. His situation sparked a controversy over health care for illegal immigrants.
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