August 21, 2009

The complexity of the issue of healthcare reform when it comes to the Latino community cannot be overstated. In fact, there cannot be just one conversation about Latinos and healthcare reform. There must be a series of conversations. For example, between 11-12 million of the nation’s 48 million Latinos are undocumented immigrants. And the healthcare issues specific to this group don’t necessarily apply to all Latinos, the great majority of whom are native-born citizens.

Latino USA’s Maria Hinojosa continues our converation on Latinos and the Healthcare Debate with Dr. Kevin Minder, Executive Director of the Center for Immigrant Healthcare Justice, a non-profit advocacy group based in St. Louis.

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Latin American Healthcare and the ‘Human Touch’

Maria Martin is an internationally acclaimed journalist. The founding producer for Latino USA, Martin has reported throughout Latin America. Martin also directs the GraciasVida Center for Media, based in Guatemala and in Texas. And while out of the country not too long ago, she had an emergency that required immediate medical treatment. She obviously noticed the differences in equipment, locations, and resources, but also appreciated many “little things” she believes are greatly lacking in modern American healthcare.

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Immigrants and Community College

August is the congressional recess and a time when Democratic leaders in Washington wanted to have a series of townhall meetings on healthcare reform. But the townhall idea quickly turned into political theatre that seems to have usurped many of the headlines.

Also missing from many headlines is the fact that it’s back-to-school time in many parts of the country. And for children of immigrants still waiting for immigration reform, the prospects of continuing their education are less clear than even healthcare reform.

Take the example of North Carolina, where two years ago, the state allowed children of undocumented immigrants to enroll in the state’s community colleges with in-state tuition rates, only to ban them from campus a few months later.

Producer Lygia Navarro reports.

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