Nursing encompasses an art, a humanistic

orientation, a feeling for the value of the individual,

and an intuitive sense of ethics, and of the

appropriateness of action taken. ~ Myrtle

Aydelotte

We have to ask ourselves whether medicine is to

remain a humanitarian and respected profession

or a new but depersonalized science in the service

of prolonging life rather than diminishing human

suffering ~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Illegal Aliens:

An individual who is not a U.S. citizen or U.S.

national and resides in the U. S. without legal

status

Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR):

An immigrant who has been granted

approval to reside and work in the U. S.

without restrictions

Most legal immigration is classified into

six immigration categories:

• Immediate Relatives

• Family-Based

• Employment-Based

• Refugees

• Asylees

• Lottery Admissions

Immigrant (Lawful Permanent Resident) ~ 12 Million with immediate family members also eligible, ¾ are eligible for naturalization process. The process toward citizenship is variable and may be lengthy.

These families work legally, have a “green card” and if well-employed may hold work-related health insurance benefits. Regardless of employment they are eligible for public health and educational services.

Lawful Immigration Annual Quotas

include 226,000 family-based, 140,000

employment-based, 90,000 refugee, and

10,000 special status for a total expected

lawful immigration of about

1 million per year

Estimated at ~ 11 Million

about 27 % increase in past decade

Of all unauthorized immigrants

living in the

United States in 2010,

39 % entered in 2000

or later, and 62 %

were from Mexico.

PRO

Our national identity of generosity to those less fortunate; human kindness

Prevention of public health issues and costs of disease from lack of immunizations and safe, healthy housing for thousands of residents who are not eligible in some states

Retail tax income from healthy, motivated employees

Increased healthy labor pool as essential for some businesses to thrive

CON

The reality of radical inequality of healthcare costs and access for U.S. citizens---basic healthcare is not even a right of citizenship

The recent economic crisis has strained taxpayers who are contributing the most to support healthcare costs through high taxes and health insurance premiums

Lack of income tax and business taxes to support health services directly for illegal residents

Flood the country with immigrants needing healthcare

5 Critical Concepts:

Classism

Structural Violence

Racism

Silence

Nationalism

•To learn about immigration laws and healthcare cost

•To better understand how social, political and structural systems

affect healthcare systems

•To learn how to engage in both sides of a debate and discover

evidence for your nursing practice

•To address your own thoughts and feelings about racism, classism,

and silence and how these pertain to your role as a nurse

•To develop a true sense of holistic care