If it passes, a new bill introduced in the Arizona legislature would require hospitals to check the immigration status of uninsured patients and immediately report those who do not have the required papers to immigration officials.
The Arizona lawmaker Rep. Steve Smith (R) who introduced the bill (H.B. 2293), said it is a hospital’s civic duty to check the immigration status, thinkprogress.com reports.
“I would hope if you witnessed somebody who is not lawfully present in this country taking advantage of, getting, acquiring any benefit or social service or something that they’re not entitled to, or something they’re abusing or neglected, I would hope somebody would pick up the phone and go, ‘Maricopa police, Buckeye police, I think — I’m not sure — but I think this is happening,”’ said Smith.
