Illegal Immigrants’ Health Costs Burden on U.S.
A truly sad event occurred recently when the young man, Fernando Pedrosa, died after a long illness in a Newport Beach nursing home before he could be reunited with his mother from El Salvador who arrived very soon after his death.
The very evident desire of both son and mother appeared to be that they should be together during his last days. This could have been accomplished if, while he was able, Mr. Pedrosa had returned to El Salvador. He would have been with his mother, his family and his friends in his native country. I believe this might have been a better way. We cannot dismiss out of hand the fact that this young man was in the United States illegally.
One news account estimated the cost to the American taxpayer of this young man’s health care at $250,000. If we add to that the many others in similar circumstances, the health care figures are huge. The monies are funds that are not then available for the needs and care of the native-born American and the legal immigrant. This is unfair.
Such cases as this deserve sympathy and some help. But, realistically, our health care system cannot extend open-ended health care to all the people who are in this country illegally. The taxpayer simply cannot bear the burden.
HAZEL H. SCHWAB
San Juan Capistrano
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