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For fear of the new law, Arizona immigrant waivers Health Services

-It was on 27 Early November, her daughter's birthday when Ana got a call from a social worker.

"Are you legally in the country?" Asked the person.

"No, I'm undocumented," replied Ana. She had applied for Health Insurance for their children, both U.S. citizens.

The workers paused for a moment and then informed Ana, under a new Arizona State law would have to report their immigration authorities, though they do not.

Since the law was passed last month estimated 700 people, the public of the benefits have applied to have the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported after to ice. It is unknown how many public Services that have their U.S. born children were entitled to apply.

"I dug my own grave, but I did not ask anything for me, for my children "Said the woman, 31, that her real name not be used questioned.

Having celebrated their daughter's birthday, took Ana and her family and for fear that immigration officials would be moved to look for them. Well, they all share a room in the house of a neighbor.

As stories like Ana's Spread immigrant groups in Arizona, the climate of fear is growing. The law of consequences is a deterrent to the provision of health services for a population of children and women who are already underserved. About one-third of Arizona children have parents with an immigrant background, according to a recent survey conducted by Pew Hispanic Center.

Children of undocumented immigrants are less likely to Health Insurance born as such, legal immigrants or U.S. citizens. In 2007 almost half of the children were born, to illegal immigrants not insured and not 25 percent of those born in the United States were insured.

The new law also created health effects Officials urge people to get immunized against the undocumented H1N1. Meanwhile, implementation of the new law by the authorities is characterized by confusion.

"The Situation is explosive. If the H1N1 virus reaches humans, and they do not go to the doctor or receive services, what will happen? "Said Alfredo Gutierrez, chief editor La Frontera Times and a former Democratic senator.

Ana had provided the State Department of Economic Security (DES) with all its information in an application for AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System), the state subsidized insurance program. Under the new law, HB 2008, the employees are obliged to anyone who illegally in the country and tried to apply for public benefits report.

The immigration status of parents applying on behalf of a child is not to to keep the child from receiving the service, according to DES.

Ana believes that the DES-workers inquired their status because they had information about her husband Employment and its true social security number. The number of the Social Security Administration issued given to him when he was younger, so his father, a legal permanent resident is, it could claim as a dependent. But it does not allow their work.

DES did not ask about immigration status people, if they complete an application, but shows nothing in the rules that its employees not to inquire about it. The employee must file a report if someone admits, illegally in the country.

Employees who do not could face fines, lose their jobs and face up to four months in prison.

Undocumented immigrants like Ana was wondering if immigration authorities come looking for her. That depends on homeland security priorities, such as Sec. Janet Napolitano. As Governor of Arizona, in contrast to similar measures HB 2008th ICE spokesman Vinnie Piccard said his agency has improved the reporting system for state agencies in Light of the new law.

"ICE will evaluate it and determine references to individual immigration status and criminal record," he said. "Top priority is to foreigners, the greatest threat to public safety, as with previous convictions for major drug offenses, murder, rape, robbery and Kidnapping, theft and other serious crimes against property given. "

But that does not clarify matters for employees of agencies in Arizona new law and federal requirements for each, regardless of immigration status are. They are caught between a rock and a hard place.

"Everyone is afraid of the realization that they do not state law, "said Tara McCollum, head of the government and media relations for the Arizona Association of Health Centers." Our Centers on how to comply with and still serve our patients to fight. "

McCollum said the 16 centers and 140 locations that serve a large number of immigrants without papers and have seen a patient fall, immunized and fewer people to get to this event because of the fear.

"This is very sad because many women do not receive prenatal care for their children, "McCollum said." There are people who are in urgent medical and do not understand it. "

The centers are independent non-profit organizations, federal grants and some government funding. But they claim they should be exempt from notification are because they are meant to be entrusted a safety net to provide services to anyone regardless of immigration status.

AAHC expects a legal opinion Attorney General Terry Goddard on the impact of the law and whether the center is required to notify their customers.

The centers serve about 20 percent of Insured population in Arizona. They are often the only option in rural areas.

"This is why the problem so for us," said McCollum. "These people have no other choice,"

Among them there are women like Guadalupe, 29, is two months pregnant, but sought no medical attention. Her husband is legally in the United States but can not afford insurance to pay for her second pregnancy in 10 years.

"It was an accident, We did not plan, "said Guadalupe, that her real name not be used because she did not want to be documented.

This is part of the reason why she does not want for emergency health services is under federal law are entitled.

"I never asked what the government pays, and my husband Taxes" She said. "The new laws that they are in force, you are automatically a criminal."

Guadalupe said she believes abortion is wrong, but concerned that their only choice will be. A regular supply could $ 5,000 in a local hospital costs.

Rosie Villegas-Smith, Director the anti-abortion group Voces Por La Vida in contact with women such as Ana. She is concerned that many of them do not apply, provided for the emergency services card, by AHCCCS, to help them, prenatal care would.

"Republicans say they are pro-life, but they do not realize that this is the most vulnerable, such as pregnant women, "said Villegas-Smith effect.

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has questions of politicians for antenatal care in this new law will.

"We are already in compliance with the law," Duane Huffman, chief legislative liaison officer for said ADHD, which acknowledged the confusion about the new law.

HB 2008 does not directly relate to emergency services, immunizations, and women and infant care (WIC), a Food Service. While there are concerns that programs such as WIC have not reported a decline in applicants, "said Huffman.

But immigrant advocates believe, the law of the negative effects are real and intentional.

"This law was designed to generate panic and deport the people to help themselves," said Antonio Velazquez, director of the Maya-Chapin organization that represents more than 3,000 indigenous Guatemalans in metropolitan Phoenix. "But the truth is that they do not have enforce the financial resources or the staff for it. "

Proponents of HB 2008 argue that it is necessary undocumented immigrants from fraudulently intention to stop social care and health insurance was.

In a recent column published in the East Valley Tribune, was claimed by the Republicans Senator Russell Pearce, that undocumented immigrants receiving public benefits the reason the ACHCCS budget should be increased.

But AHCCCS statistics show some cases of fraud in the application process. In fiscal 2009, the AHCCCS fraud unit investigated 215 cases, but there is no break down of how many names on undocumented immigrants. In In 2009 the state insurance program grew by 214 000 new members. Before the new law, AHCCCS already a system to verify eligibility, which U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident for at least five years.

"We all go into immigration agents," said Attorney Isabel Garcia, director of the Coalition de Derechos Humanos, a human rights organization in Tucson, "when the reality is that immigration is a complex Area of the law. "

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