Arizona hospitals could soon be required to check people’s immigration status before providing care.
Monday, the state senate committee heard arguments for SB 1405, which if passed, would require hospitals to confirm whether a potential patient is in the U.S. legally before giving them non-emergency care. If it is discovered the person is undocumented, immigration authorities would be have to be informed, and the person would not be admitted into the hospital.
Those needing emergency care would be treated first, and immigration officials would be contacted afterwards.
George Pauk of the Physicians for a National Health Program told the Associated Press, “This is making us into a police state that will try to catch people when they are sick. Do we want to stop sick people from coming in for health care?”
And the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association said the legislation would be “an undue burden” on hospitals and “would result in a delayed hospital admission process for all patients, including U.S. citizens.”
