Policy Analysis for Washington State Policy of Undocumented Immigrant Ineligibility for Medi-Care
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Event Website
https://source2022.sched.com/
Start Date
18-5-2022
End Date
18-5-2022
Keywords
Undocumented Immigrant, House Bill 1191, Medi-Care
Abstract
On February 29th, 2020, Washington state, ground zero for the COVID-19 pandemic in America, would gain another national distinction as the first state in America to record a death from COVID-19. Over the next two years, a wave of mass deaths would sweep the nation as almost 1 million people perished from severe cases of the disease. These deaths would be concentrated primarily in the most vulnerable communities, with the most tenuous connections to essential resources like healthcare. Undocumented immigrants and migrant workers in America sought out healthcare at a far lower rate than any other group in America during the height of the pandemic due to fear of them or a family member being deported, prohibitive costs of care, and language barriers. Race, class, and immigration status would compound upon one another to render healthcare too expensive, too difficult, and too dangerous for undocumented immigrants to seek medical care during the worst phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. The passage of legislation and then defending said legislation against judicial review is one of the best ways to provide a stable basis from which immigrants can seek out essential services without fear of deportation or confinement. The policy analysis will highlight the legal roadblocks faced by asylum seekers, climate refugees, migrant workers, and legal residents as a result of being denied state-funded healthcare insurance. The purpose of this policy analysis is to qualitatively and quantitatively show the damage wrought over the last 30 years in America, by the current policy of excluding immigrants from Medi-Care eligibility and to present the case for the passage Washington State proposed House Bill 1191, a landmark bill for a state expansion of Medi-Care to include undocumented immigrants in Washington.
Recommended Citation
Clay, Alan, "Policy Analysis for Washington State Policy of Undocumented Immigrant Ineligibility for Medi-Care" (2022). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 26.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2022/COTS/26
Department/Program
Law & Justice
Additional Mentoring Department
Law & Justice
Policy Analysis for Washington State Policy of Undocumented Immigrant Ineligibility for Medi-Care
On February 29th, 2020, Washington state, ground zero for the COVID-19 pandemic in America, would gain another national distinction as the first state in America to record a death from COVID-19. Over the next two years, a wave of mass deaths would sweep the nation as almost 1 million people perished from severe cases of the disease. These deaths would be concentrated primarily in the most vulnerable communities, with the most tenuous connections to essential resources like healthcare. Undocumented immigrants and migrant workers in America sought out healthcare at a far lower rate than any other group in America during the height of the pandemic due to fear of them or a family member being deported, prohibitive costs of care, and language barriers. Race, class, and immigration status would compound upon one another to render healthcare too expensive, too difficult, and too dangerous for undocumented immigrants to seek medical care during the worst phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. The passage of legislation and then defending said legislation against judicial review is one of the best ways to provide a stable basis from which immigrants can seek out essential services without fear of deportation or confinement. The policy analysis will highlight the legal roadblocks faced by asylum seekers, climate refugees, migrant workers, and legal residents as a result of being denied state-funded healthcare insurance. The purpose of this policy analysis is to qualitatively and quantitatively show the damage wrought over the last 30 years in America, by the current policy of excluding immigrants from Medi-Care eligibility and to present the case for the passage Washington State proposed House Bill 1191, a landmark bill for a state expansion of Medi-Care to include undocumented immigrants in Washington.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2022/COTS/26
Faculty Mentor(s)
Christine Henderson