Western International University
COM 112 Utilizing Information in College Writing
April 30, 2006
Illegal Immigration & Healthcare For many people around the world, immigration to the United States is just a dream. Those who have already legally immigrated to the US have found the dream. Many illegal immigrants dislike the label but that is what they are. When an immigrant enters the country without permission from the American government that immigrant is illegal. Without proper healthcare screening these illegal immigrants can bring in diseases we have long since wiped out into our country. They are and will continue to be a major health risk to the American people. In an article written by Congressman Elton Gallegly says “Illegal immigration is the number one reason our healthcare is on life support.” (Gallegly 2005). Just by definition illegal immigrants are here because they entered our country illegally and without permission. It is an accepted idea that illegal immigrants do not have healthcare and when they become sick the seek emergency room assistance (Gallegly 2005). With healthcare insurance skyrocketing many Americans are going without this insurance just to survive. The pro-illegal immigration folks say that America benefits because many of the jobs that these illegal immigrants take are jobs that Americans do not want. Without these foreign workers the opponents say our economy would come to a screeching halt and they plan to do it on May 1st. But the illegal immigrants are not the enemy of the American people; it is the corporation who exploit these poor people. If an American worker wants a job currently performed by an illegal alien they have two choices: they can turn that person in but that would not guarantee them the job or they can agree to work for less. When they work for less it usually means that they will not have health benefits. Without benefits illegal immigrants use