“Immigrants enter the United States with dreams of a better life for themselves and their families. Rather than posing a threat to our democracy, they reinforce and enrich the values that make the America the country it is” – Carlos Gutierrez
The Declaration of Independence states that the inalienable rights for all human beings are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Every single person residing on the grounds of the United States is absolutely promised those rights.
Nonetheless, there’s an exception, a whole community living on broken promises.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, “In 2023, most people, 92.0 percent or 305.2 million, had health insurance, either for some or all of the year…. That means 8.0 percent of people were uninsured for the entire calendar year”. Even though citizens make up a major part of the uninsured people, undocumented immigrants are reported as the majority of the uninsured population.
Undocumented immigrants have a part in our society, and we must acknowledge that they share the same land, but not always the same benefits that come with residing in the U.S. alongside its citizens.
“Undocumented immigrant” refers to a person who resides in the U.S. without immigration documentation or a visa. The Pew Research Center estimates that the undocumented immigrant community grew to 11.0 million in 2022. There are 1.3 million U.S.-born adults who are children of undocumented immigrants, as well as 4.4 million U.S.-born children under 18 living with an undocumented immigrant parent.
U.S. citizens, whether poor or wealthy, have a greater advantage than those who are undocumented— in this particular case, the accessibility, insurance coverage, and understanding of the United States healthcare system.
The purpose of health care attends to the “well-being of individuals and communities”.This includes giving access to “preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, maintenance, monitoring, and counseling services.”
Generally speaking, health care is the first step that ensures the experience of life itself.
Though it isn’t as known that most undocumented immigrants pay taxes, it should be a reminder that they are one of the populations in the U.S. that annually contribute millions more to Medicaid, yet they receive less in benefits.
Even though undocumented immigrants heavily play a part in these contributions, they are not eligible to purchase or enroll in federally funded health insurance programs.
Undocumented immigrants supply a massive amount of revenue in taxes for healthcare, yet aren’t being included in healthcare reform laws that are aiming to increase accessibility and affordability to citizens.
Undocumented immigrants have limited options when it comes to finding places of employment. This causes undocumented immigrants to work in high-risk jobs or environments, such as construction, agricultural work, and food preparation jobs. In other words, undocumented immigrants are in need of healthcare, considering that they are more prone and susceptible to work injuries, putting their health at an all-time risk.
With this in mind, if people who fall under this label happen to get injured, what happens then?
This information should be at the forefront of our minds. A whole people, a community, doesn’t have access to what should be a basic human necessity.
A key factor of life is health. If you are healthy, you live. It matters most importantly, simply because it allows for one to be able to experience life. And as aforementioned, it’s an absolute fundamental right. Meaning it cannot be disregarded– ever.
We all know that after life comes death, and many people are afraid of that part. I figure that this is a reason why we as society consider health to hold a significant value in our lives. For example, during New Year’s, it is common for families to wish for wellness among themselves and others, so that hope, that wish, can get them a chance to celebrate one more year together.
Citizens who can obtain or already own health insurance have their future in a more secure state. You get sick? Go to the doctor. And this won’t be a problem in itself because you will have all the resources you need. The insurance, the medical history, the English language, and most importantly the legal status.
On the other hand, everything is completely flipped for someone who is undocumented, as they fear being reported to authorities like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and hence delay or altogether avoid medical attention.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, was passed on March 10th, 2010, and signed into law March 23rd of that same year. The primary purpose or objective of the ACA was to expand insurance coverage.
However, the ACA excluded undocumented immigrants, burdening them not only with high costs of healthcare but also a lack of trust in medical institutions.
Due to undocumented immigrants having the lack of legal documentation to show that they are “lawfully present”, they are unable to receive or benefit from healthcare reform laws such as the ACA. Although undocumented immigrants aren’t able to access these types of federal programs, some states try to expand health care insurance for those who can’t apply to Medicaid or etc.
Regardless, undocumented immigrants face restrictions and limitations when it comes to different areas of the healthcare system, resulting in negative effects.
Although the ACA was not the first legislation to exclude undocumented immigrants, it set a standard. The effect was to moderate the exclusion of other groups who are seen as typically more deserving of health insurance and other benefits.
Removing undocumented immigrants from eligibility implies that they believe citizens to be more worthy of accessing healthcare, disregarding annual financial inputs from undocumented immigrants, as well as their need to acquire medical insurance to obtain healthcare services. In other words, creating an imbalance of equality that belittles and dehumanizes undocumented immigrants systemically.
With these barriers, financial debt and coverage continue to be a prominent issue, deriving from the inability to obtain medical insurance.
In recent events throughout Montgomery County, undocumented immigrants are being targeted more now than ever. With ICE running rampant all over Norristown, the fight and cry for undocumented immigrants are quickly rising.
Undocumented immigrants shouldn’t be outcasts in a country most have devoted half their lives to. The United States promises three things: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We should welcome the immigrant community regardless of their legal status. If we simply can’t face the fact that we are single-handedly fueling discrimination by doing nothing, then we are not living up to the promises of the United States.
