Taking pressure off healthcare delivery

With regard to the Oct. 18 editorial, “Borderline healthcare,” to prevent the severe impact illegal immigration has on the healthcare delivery system, what is needed is to establish teaching medical centers on the Mexican side in border states to reduce the incentive for illegals to seek medical treatment in American hospitals.

Employing both American and Mexican medical personnel, these cooperative clinics would provide medical care -- while relieving American taxpayers of the heavy burden of medical costs and aid to dependent children incurred on behalf of illegals annually.

Second, we need a renewable guest-worker program that requires workers to be “bonded” with health insurance to cover costs incurred while working in the United States.

Further, the Border Patrol should establish a reserve component to increase the number of agents. The trained reserve has been a successful element in police and fire agencies in Los Angeles County and across the country.

MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH

Supervisor

Los Angeles County