Illegal Immigrants and Health Care
Danson Ndungu
Illegal Immigration and Health Care
Phil 165
December 7th 2010
Christopher Columbus landed on the shores of America back 500 years ago in the year 1492. Were he and his crew the first illegal immigrants in America? The land was occupied by another group of people that didn’t grant these explorers the right to have whatever they please without acquiring some kind of legal status. The topic of legal status might have been irrelevant back in those days but it surely is an issue that is widely talked about in today’s America. The issue of illegal immigrants has been a hot topic especially when it comes to discussing whether these people should be allowed to have health care provided by a government that doesn’t recognize their status. The ethical question that comes into play here is whether the opportunity to have health care is a human right or not? If it is, then the United States government would be doing an injustice by withholding health care from anyone regardless of their status in society. This paper will discuss the reasons why the United States should grant illegal immigrants (specifically undocumented workers) publically financed services; the main focus will be on healthcare. Also, an analysis of James Dwyer’s argument “Illegal Immigrants, Health Care and Social Responsibility” will be provided near the conclusion of the paper. There are a number of reasons why the issue of illegal immigrants is such a concern. With more people crossing the border into the United States in search of a better life, the work force is being affected tremendously, and our government is spending unthinkable amounts of tax dollars trying to keep the borders safe and the crime rates low. The first reason that government should grant public services, especially healthcare, to the undocumented workers is the simple fact that they are human beings. The main goal for healthcare is obviously to prevent the death and disability, to relieve pain and suffering, and to
Illegal Immigration and Health Care
Phil 165
December 7th 2010
Christopher Columbus landed on the shores of America back 500 years ago in the year 1492. Were he and his crew the first illegal immigrants in America? The land was occupied by another group of people that didn’t grant these explorers the right to have whatever they please without acquiring some kind of legal status. The topic of legal status might have been irrelevant back in those days but it surely is an issue that is widely talked about in today’s America. The issue of illegal immigrants has been a hot topic especially when it comes to discussing whether these people should be allowed to have health care provided by a government that doesn’t recognize their status. The ethical question that comes into play here is whether the opportunity to have health care is a human right or not? If it is, then the United States government would be doing an injustice by withholding health care from anyone regardless of their status in society. This paper will discuss the reasons why the United States should grant illegal immigrants (specifically undocumented workers) publically financed services; the main focus will be on healthcare. Also, an analysis of James Dwyer’s argument “Illegal Immigrants, Health Care and Social Responsibility” will be provided near the conclusion of the paper. There are a number of reasons why the issue of illegal immigrants is such a concern. With more people crossing the border into the United States in search of a better life, the work force is being affected tremendously, and our government is spending unthinkable amounts of tax dollars trying to keep the borders safe and the crime rates low. The first reason that government should grant public services, especially healthcare, to the undocumented workers is the simple fact that they are human beings. The main goal for healthcare is obviously to prevent the death and disability, to relieve pain and suffering, and to
Cited: Arras, John D., Alex John London, and Bonnie Steinbock. Embryo Ehtics-The Moral Logic of Stem-Cell Research. 7th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., 2009. 191. Dwyer, James. "Illegal Immigrants, Health Care, and Social Responsibility.." CBS Business Network Feb. 2004: 1-13. Web. 8 Dec 2010. <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_go2103/is_1_34/ai_n6420698/?tag=content;col1>. "Keeping America Safe and Secure." Office of Management and Budget. The White House, n.d. Web. 8 Dec 2010. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/factsheet_key_homeland/>. Romano, Andrew. "Wait a Second. Why Shouldn’t We Insure Illegals?." Newsweek 14 Sep. 2009: 1-2. Web. 8 Dec 2010. <http://www.newsweek.com/2009/09/13/wait-a-second- why-shouldn-t-we-insure-illegals.html>.