Mr. Chairman. I rise in opposition to the Bryant amendment. which would require public medical facilities to report cases of patients who appear to be undocumented. This amendment risks lives. threatens public health. and harasses U.S. citizens and legal immigrants. Medical personnel have devoted their lives to treating and preventing illnesses. They cannot effectively perform their duties if they are constantly concerned with policing their patients based solely on suspicion of undocumented status. Medical professionals are also unable to perform their duties if patients who need their help are so fearful of being caught and deported that they neglect to seek treatment for serious or infectious disease. The spread of infectious disease could increase dramatically In this country because of this requirement. Medical personnel are not Immigration experts. Imposing this requirement on medical facilities would feed the climate of fear and zenophobia In this country. People who are mistaken for undocumented immigrants because of their appearance or their accent face the possibility of harassment when they seek needed medical care for themselves and their families. When a person Is ill or suffering. It is not appropriate or humane to ask him or her to brandish the necessary immigration documents prior to treatment. If we are to remain a country of compassion. I ask my colleagues to defeat this harmful amendment.
Keywords matched
undocumented immigration Immigration deported immigrants