The New Collossus: A Theoretical Analysis

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Health Care for Illegal Immigrants is not Just Morally Correct
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.” is etched upon the Statue of Liberty beckoning all immigrants to the United States of America. This quote is from The New Collossus, a poem by Emma Lazarus, exemplifying that our country opens its arms to all walks of life wanting the rights to freedom. Freedom to receive the same treatment as any other human being who comes upon the shores of this great nation. Lazarus’s quote and the ethical foundation that this country has been founded upon is in complete contradiction of Madeleine Pelner Cosman’s article, “Illegal Aliens and American Medicine”. Cosman offers the impression that illegal immigrants coming into the United States should not be given the same level of medical care afforded to all American citizens. Providing illegal immigrants proper health care and insurance will keep American citizens free of …show more content…

Hsia has analyzed many factors are associated with the closures of hospital emergency departments that contradict Cosman’s theory that the reason is due towards illegal immigrants and their free medical care. Reasons for hospital closure include hospital, community, and market level characteristics (Hsia 6). By providing insurance to illegal immigrants, the system can save money by offering cheaper preventative care that makes the need for subsequent emergency care or more intense procedures less likely (Glen 226). Lack of access to preventive and primary health care services results in increased rates of hospitalizations for conditions that can be prevented (Edman 8). If we provide these illegal immigrants with proper health care and insurance, then the number of emergency room visits will