Showing posts with label immigrants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label immigrants. Show all posts

PostHeaderIcon Hospital services overstretched by illegal immigrants

11/24/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


Supported by taxpayers to give medical care to Americans and illegal immigrants alike, Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia suffers like other hospitals in the country from budget crunch. Its services have reached breaking point because of high volume of charity patients and dwindling money support.

After decades of humanitarian work spanning more than a hundred years, the hospital which provides dialysis for patients with end-stage renal problems has started cutting down services for lack funds, worrying patients who come regularly without any means to pay for treatment. Approximately $50,000 dollars are needed yearly to keep a patient alive for a year.

In October 4, 2009, the public hospital stopped its outpatient service, putting uncertainty on the survival of its regular clientele, mostly undocumented aliens. They are left to figure their next move to get healthcare right in the US territory or in their homeland.

“With limited exceptions, illegal immigrants are ineligible for public insurance programs like Medicaid and Medicare and often cannot afford private coverage. When major illness strikes, they have few options but to go to emergency rooms, which are required by federal law to treat anyone whose health is deemed in serious jeopardy…

Officials at Grady, which will provide more than $300 million in uncompensated care this year, estimate that as many as a fifth of its uninsured patients are illegal immigrants. Although the numbers are elusive, a national study by the RAND Corporation concluded that illegal immigrants account for about 1.3 percent of public health spending. “---New York Times (11/20/09)

With the economic downturn, America is now experiencing financial difficulty in supporting the health needs of about 10 million illegal immigrants among the 46 million who don’t have medical insurance benefits. When they become covered by the healthcare system, available medical services may not be enough to accommodate them. The deluge of patients can precipitate doctor and nurse shortages, making Pres. Barack Obama’s healthcare reform more contentious.

Because of the huge number of new holders of insurance benefits, elderly Americans, the disabled, and those with rare diseases and needing chronic care may be marginalized as services become scarce or trimmed down --something that is likely to happen when patients flood the system and cost-saving measures are implemented.

It is no surprise then that the public is confused and fearful. Citizens find it hard to digest the almost 1 trillion cost of the proposed healthcare reform bill that awaits deliberation in Capitol Hill after the Thanksgiving holiday. (Photo Credit: Benedicte destrus) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon US Visa Availability September 2009

9/01/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


Each month, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issue the visa availability of those who wish to immigrate (family-based application) or work (employment based application) in America. For the month of September 2009 here are the abridged priority dates:

FAMILY CATEGORIES September

Categories----Worldwide----China (PRC)----India------Mexico-----Philippines
1st------------05-15-03-----05-15-03-------05-15-03----01-01-91---09-22-93
2A------------04-15-05-----04-15-05-------04-15-05----12-22-02---04-15-05
2B------------07-01-01-----07-01-01-------07-01-01----05-15-92---05-01-98
3rd-----------12-15-00-----12-05-00-------12-15-00----07-01-01---09-22-91
4th-----------02-22-99------02-22-99-------02-22-99----09-22-95---10-22-86

EMPLOYMENT CATEGORIES September

Categories--- Worldwide----China (PRC)----India-----Mexico-----Philippines
1st-------------Current------Current-----------Current---Current----Current
2nd------------Current----- -01-08-05--------01-08-05---Current----Current
3rd------------Unavailable--10-22-02--------10-15-01---08-15-03---05-01-05
Unskilled-- Unavailable--Unavailable----Unavailable--Unavailable--Unavaiable
4th------------Unavailable—Unavailable—-Unavailable-Unavailable--Unavailable
Religious----Unavailable---Unavailable---Unavailable—Unavailable--Unavailable
5th-------------Current-----Current------------Current---Current------Current

For detailed information I suggest the websites: State Department Visa Bulletin---http://travel.state.gov/; http://shusterman.com/vb.html (Photo Credit: Yuhuru1701)

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PostHeaderIcon Swearing of Justice Sotomayor & recalling America’s nameless achievers

8/09/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post


Sonia Sotomayor, the 55 year-old Bronx resident and new member of the US Supreme Court is sworn into office today, August 8, 2009 as the 3rd woman justice in its 220 year history. The lady judge who for weeks has been scrutinized as a nominee and accorded attention for her “phenomenal” achievements, will seat as the first Latina associate justice, bringing pride and gladness to those who aspire to capture a slice of the American dream. Hoping that she will be fair in spite of some doubts whether she will be unbiased in her judgment, she gets approval to take oath of office with Chief Justice John Roberts.

Sen. Charles Schumer (NY-D) and other Sotomayor supporters speak of the woman with Puerto Rican parentage in superlative terms---as though achievement from the ranks through hard work in America is a rarity. In truth, Sotomayor’s inspiring life story of struggle from poverty to become the educated Princeton and Yale law graduate is not an uncommon experience in United States. In many ways many immigrants live a life of struggle and heroism that eacapes the public radar.

American achievers in their respective niches of endeavor populate the landscape. That is expected in the ranks of generations of dreamful immigrants and their descendants who flock to America for the opportunity it gives to those who want to be “set free” and have the chance to pursue something great in their lives.

Therefore, to celebrate Sotomayor’s rise to the Supreme Court is wonderful, but Americans must not forget the nameless heroic citizens out there with equally dazzling life stories who continue to work for the good of the country. Young Americans have a lot to learn from Sotomayor and the guys in the neighbohood--- as much as the simple unknown citizen who makes an honest living on main street. (Photo Credi;ZHL Photography) =0=

RELATED BLOG: Sotomayor becomes first US lady Hispanic justice Posted by mesiamd at 8/07/2009

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PostHeaderIcon Immigrant Filipinos among victims in Italy’s earthquake

4/16/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post
Many are wondering how the people in the medieval city of L Aquila and neighboring environs are coping with the strong earthquake that brought death to close to 300 people, damaged more than 10,000 buildings and rendered 58,000 people homeless. 33,000 emergency tents were set up to house those who were displaced.

"There is little industry here, the economy was based on the students from out of town, and they are not coming back for a long time," said Daniele Cerrone, who owned a pub in L'Aquila's ravaged historic center. "In the meantime what are we going to do? Buy clothes and go the pub between ourselves?"----AP/ Yahoo. News (04/15/09, David, A)

The suffering and uncertainty of the earthquake victims aren’t shared by the local Italians alone. Scores of immigrants from Peru, India, the Philippines and neighboring countries who set up their lives in their adopted land sought refuge in tent shelters after their homes were leveled on the ground. Filipino expatriates Julyn Macabenta and Shane Cipriano who lost their home were among the thousands who were displaced.

It will take years for the city ravaged by the earthquake to recover. With many aftershocks, the April 6 tremblor with an intensity of 6.3 has raised a rebuilding dilemma which is estimated to cost $12 billion euros ($16 billion dollars)---Bloomberg.com (04/14/09, Krause-Jackson, F.)(Photo Credit: AP/ Alessandra Tarantino)=0=

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