First was the scandal involving pregnant aliens from Asian countries using visitor visas to enter the United States and gain American citizenship for their newborns.
At least they pay for their own transportation and medical expenses.
Thousands of Mexican citizens, however, engage in more substantial financial rip-offs each year in U.S. border-town hospitals.
Mexican ambulances routinely bring sick and injured patients to American hospitals for treatment, ringing up $200 million annually in unpaid emergency costs subsidized by U.S. taxpayers and insured patients.
A 1986 federal law requires hospitals to give emergency care to anyone despite ability to pay or immigration status.
American healthcare providers, taxpayers and insured patients already are eating emergency and routine medical costs for an estimated 41+ million citizens who lack health insurance.
The U.S. also has many more millions of residents without enough food or adequate shelter.
America should take care of its own before subsidizing indigents of other countries. (5 JANUARY 2003)
