Immigration's Silent Invasion, Deadly Consequences

Nrilinks ^ | Dec 22, 2003

[hotpotato]

The invasion of illegal aliens pouring over the borders of the United States is taking an ominous turn. They are not alone! Their bodies may carry Hepatitis A, B & C, tuberculosis, leprosy and Chagas Disease. Chagas is a nasty parasitic bug common in Latin America where 18 million people are infected and 50,000 deaths occur annually.

Illegal aliens, by avoiding health screenings at U.S. borders, carry TB, the most serious being MDR, a multi-drug resistant tuberculosis—with a higher death rate than cancer. MDR-TB occurs when Mycobacterium tuberculosis becomes resistant to at least Isoniazid and Rifampin—the two most powerful TB drugs. According to the New York Academy of Sciences, 2002 update, "Ordinary TB requires a six-month regimen of four drugs for cure. MDR-TB requires up to two years of treatment with a complex regimen of much more expensive drugs to which the patient's TB bacteria are susceptible."

Many of these drugs have toxic side effects. A patient with MDR-TB will infect others with MDR-TB--not ordinary TB. "It has been called "Ebola with Wings," in the chilling book: 'TIME BOMB: THE GLOBAL EPIDEMIC OF MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS', by Lee B. Reighmann, M.D., M.P.H.

According to the New York Academy of Sciences, Update, January, 2002, "TB bacteria readily fly through the air, as when an afflicted person coughs. It's estimated that each victim will infect 10, 20 or more people--in whom the disease will likely remain latent, creating the potential 'time bomb' effect."

To make matters worse, in excess of 7,000 new cases of leprosy have been diagnosed in the USA in the past three years. Hansen's Disease (leprosy) is now endemic to the Northeastern United States for the first time ever. Ironically, because of First World personal hygiene and sanitation practiced in America, leprosy affected only 900 people in the previous 40 years. However, illegal alien immigrants from India, Brazil, the Caribbean and up through Mexico have fueled the resurgence into the United States.

Chagas, called the kissing bug disease because the parasite favors the face as a route of infection, comes in acute and chronic forms, which can damage your heart and intestines. This parasite now threatens our blood supply, yet no means to test the blood is currently available. Ironically the public health community has been aware of this danger for years. "Hundreds of blood recipients may be silently infected, experts say, and there is no effective treatment for them. After a decade, 10 to 30 percent of them will die when their hearts or intestines, weakened by the disease, explode," according to a New York Times story, November 18, 2003 by Donald G. McNeil, Jr. Three people received Chagas infected organs in 2001, the first such cases reported in the United States ever! Two of those three died.

Dengue Fever, reports of polio, and now, the first case of malaria in Texas trickle into the United States as the invasion of illegal aliens increases in numbers.

Undiagnosed disease due to uncontrolled illegal immigration is not confined to the Border States. This health care crisis spreads daily across the nation. In 2002, Northern Virginia reported a 17 % increase in tuberculosis cases. Prince William County alone reported a staggering 188 % over the previous year. Health officials link immigrants to this outbreak and credit them with introducing the drug resistant strains. In 2001 Marion County experienced an outbreak of Multi-Drug Resistant TB, which was investigated by the Indiana University School of Medicine. Their findings? Mexican Nationals, i.e., illegal aliens, had flooded into the area causing the outbreak.

In Queens, New York the health department found that 81% of new TB cases in 2001 were "immigrants". The CDC reports that last year one-half of all new TB cases were attributed to foreign born people, who have an eight times higher incidence of TB. "Health officials state the rise of TB is largely a consequence of the migration of people from parts of the world where the disease is common. It is thought that two-thirds of the cases of TB brought into the United States originated in three countries: Mexico, the Philippines and Vietnam. Recent outbreaks include Portland, Maine, Del Ray Beach, Florida and Michigan.

In 1999, a health advisory was issued due to a Dengue Fever outbreak along the Mexico (Nuevo Laredo)/ Texas—(Webb County) border. Though not usually fatal, there is a more serious strain called dengue hemorrhagic fever, which CAN kill you.

It gets worse. The U.S. government, which is sworn to protect American citizens, is in reality, aiding and abetting this health care crisis. Quoting a Fox News Report from April 4, 2003, Miguel, an illegal alien who worked construction on a subway renovation project for months, was able to change his status to legal permanent alien. Unfortunately, Miguel was infected with tuberculosis. This did not stop the federal government from issuing Miguel a health waiver under the Immigration and Nationality Act, a waiver that permits him a green card, even though his disease made him inadmissible for the waiver. Miguel is now legally free to move about the country—and is, at this moment.

What does this mean to American citizens? Does it take the immediacy of a SARS or tuberculosis epidemic to force our Congress and president into action? After the fact? After the deaths of dozens or thousands of innocent citizens? What does it require for them to take action as this 'silent invasion' crosses into our country? Our borders are as porous today as they were on 9/11. But this terror is a silent invasion--a deadly, growing, ticking 'Time Bomb'.

It means your children are at risk when attending school or going to the movies. It means that when a classmate from a foreign country sneezes or coughs, your child may be at risk for any number of diseases. If you eat at a fast food restaurant, a person infected with hepatitis could prepare your food. If you need a blood transfusion, the blood could be infected with Chagas Disease.

What can you do? You may visit the principal of your school and insist that every child pass a complete health screening, especially for tuberculosis and hepatitis. You may ask local health inspectors to check restaurants in your community to see that all employees are legal residents or American citizens and have been health screened. For all these undetectable diseases, you may call your senator or representative, 800-648-3516 and demand they secure the U.S. border with Mexico to stop illegal immigration by whatever means you deem necessary, i.e., US troops, National Guardsmen, mass deportations and arrests of employers who hire illegal aliens. Make the punishment worse than their profit.

[ought-six]

Yes, I've read it. Some of the proposals make sense. However, the package is an amnesty, pure and simple. The only thing that keeps it from being a complete amnesty (i.e., for ALL illegals), is that those illegals who don't comply will not get the amnesty; those who do comply, get the amnesty. But it's still an amnesty. My mother was a LEGAL immigrant, and she played by the rules, jumped through all the hoops, and became an American citizen. Granting any amnesty to immigration law breakers (not to mention the litany of other crimes many of the illegals commit) is a slap in the face to my Mother and to all other legal immigrants.

[ought-six]

"So, your sollution is finding 8-12 million illegals through home raids and shipping them to Mexico in vans and buses? How do you make your proposal work?"

Ummmm, it's been done before, and by governments that had nowhere near the capacity or technology or wherewithal that we have.

[ought-six]

Why not have some citizen groups patrol the borders? There was a time, before PC, that such an alternative would have received wide support and approval.

[ought-six]

"And, these are the people working in our restaurant kitchens and cleaning our hotels. Spread the germs, uh, I mean love."

Isn't that the truth!

[Porterville]

Before you continue blowing smoke and looking foolish, are you aware that the new budget doesn't contain a one dime increase for the Border Patrol?

You are quoting Bush, do you think Bush is "foolish" ... aren't you one of those angry about how Bush is spending? Consistency?

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Here's for anyone who blindly accepts the President's proposal. Me? I'm not into idol worship. He's done the Country proud "overthere." But here at home?

Yes I read the proposal. I didn't see one word about health and not one word about English only though any ILLEGAL ("willing worker") choosing to pursue citizenship would be expected to know something about America. It used to be that way until politician pukes stopped enforcing the requirement. Big deal that they should ask for it now.

It is maddening to see the President mix LEGAL immigrants in with ILLEGAL! I have sponsored immigrants. I know the medical and background checks, the financial responsibilities, the waiting -- all this was before today's mess. We were lucky.

I read the proposal. So? Those who "do not follow the rules of the program, or who break the law will not be eligible for continued participation and will be required to return to their home." I've heard it before! I remember the promises and big talk back in 1986. Let's have proof before there are new laws. Enforce current laws to the max possible. Then we'll talk about new laws. Trust but verify.

Here in California we are likely to have a shot at passing Prop 187 this year, again! So here is the solution. Let each state decide. Let the federal government be forced to decide, who are they going to support? U.S. citizens or ILLEGAL aliens from all over the world.

Showdown time. It don't git no simpler.

We don't need troops on the borders. We need elected leaders who are NOT LIARS and who will enforce the laws in the interior as well as the borders.

[brianl703]

They will self-deport if the penalties for violations are made severe enough.

[Porterville]

I would like to know if our government is taking steps towards protecting us.

That is easy, check the CDC www.cdc.gov

[Moseley]

Also see:
http://www.illinoisleader.com/opinion/opinionview.asp?c=12010

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

This article is nonsense. Everyone knows that "Our Diversity Is Our Strength!" Why dying for diversity will be a joy!

[Porterville]

Hmmmmmmmm....these are sad times indeed, when we need an "act of congress"...to do something that the President has already been sworn in to do....to "protect and defend the Constitution of the United States"...

Hmmmmm.... well I guess don't really care,because the next president could/would just do away with the border protection. " Sad times inded" no just soulutions without the use of an axe.

[Porterville]

OK, do you know where all the illegals are in this country? Do you have anyway of finding them?

Does Bush's proposal? Yes. Maybe it is all rhetoric to you, but sitting around waiting for the problem to just go away is sloth.

[DoctorMichael]

"....Illegals shop in the same stores that we do, walk the same streets that we do...live in a canyon and alley near us....."

Additionally........They prepare our food in restaurants (we just don't see them in the back of the kitchen)....OR.....They work for Tyson's Food preparing the chickens meat that is sold at our grocery stores.

These two methodologies would very efficient in disseminating diseases from infected individuals to the population in general.

[brianl703]

I can choose not to travel to Mexico.

[citizen]

Come on now, be fair, these migrants do work hard until they get sick.

And as far as spreading diseases, well, we already got sick people, so what the hey?

[Hostage]

This is all well and good and needs to be done. The part that is objectionable is the legalization process and provisions for illegals.

The President is trying to push through a stealth amnesty program under the guise of a much needed security proposal.

He may not view it as such but you can believe that the Mexican government views it as such, only they want more and they will get it if these types of policies continue.

The President has been sold on a technological solution, eyescans, fingerprinting databases, etc. That's good for Visa applicants but it's not good for border jumpers and social service parasites. The 14th Amendment will continue to work in favor of the illegal invasion as will family reunification laws.

And the notion that all will be processed equally under one security umbrella is also a mistake. Incompetance is the norm for lower levels of state government. Intentional incompetence in the form of not meeting federal requirements keeping in mind they are unionized unlike the federal government's Homeland Security.

State governments will continue to dole out subsistence, health and educational benefits to those that are not in the country legally. Despite their budgetary problems, they are adept at passing all manner of tax adjustments to fill gaps and they will target federal matching funds at every opportunity.

Visa applicants and most border jumpers are significantly different in their approach to American governments.

We would not be having this discussion if the number of illegal persons was one million versus twelve million. It is not necessarily the problem of illegal border crossing as it is the magnitude of that problem which concerns so many.

[Consort]

Exactly....which mandates immediate deportation or immediate assimilation....and it doesn't look like mass deportations are going to happen.

[Dante3]

My sentiments exactly.

Just wondering how one makes a citizen's arrest when coming across illegal aliens?

[Jim Cane]

they're just providing the diseases that Americans don't want...

LOL! and then crying...

[Porterville]

We would not be having this discussion if the number of illegal persons was one million versus twelve million. It is not necessarily the problem of illegal border crossing as it is the magnitude of that problem which concerns so many.

Exactly, 12 million is a very big number that has to be dealt with effectively, with strategy, not with some garbled nonsense about finding 12 million unknown/unregistered illegals and throwing them in a van back home... way to many.