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Given the massive change in government as a result of the creation The Department of Homeland Security and the consequent reorganization of the United States government structure concern for the Immigration and Naturalization Service is great. Under the George W. Bush Administration, not only is the Immigration and Naturalization Department being moved, its budget has increased 5,423% from last year’s budget to $28 billion.1As a result of the September 11, 2000 attacks and the inflow new immigrates, United States government and policy is focused on immigration. Federal, state and city government must define policy that provides immigrant populations with access to affordable, quality health care. Central to this policy must be the emphasis on affordable healthcare alternatives to the expensive emergency room. For the purpose of examining the issue of healthcare provision for the United States immigrant population, this paper will use articles, journals, surveys performed by non-profit organizations and governmental sources to illustrate the need for better access and quality healthcare for US immigrants. Currently, immigration policies at the federal level are changing on an everyday basis. As the Immigration and Naturalization Service undergoes a severe transformation, it is unclear as to how these administrative and policy changes will affect our constituents. While it is still too early to estimate the degree of impact that these changes will have on our constituents with immigration related issues, we can certainly take a closer look at exploring better ways to build a stronger connection with the immigrant community in the 18th District. This issue of lack of access and boundaries to quality affordable health care has become an issue that the American Public must deal with direct. Over the course of the last year and a half, I have had the opportunity to work with a United States Congresswoman on issues related to health and immigration. The elections of 2002 brought new congressional district into existence and brought with it new public areas and new concerns to research and serve. My task was to reach the Westchester County’s immigrant issues and health issue. As redistricting takes place with the exclusion of Queens and the Bronx, and the addition of Rockland County, my research focused on the immigrant community in Westchester County, more specifically, the Spanish-speaking community in the County. Demographic information from the 2000 Census indicates that the Hispanic4 population in Westchester County makes up 16 percent of the total population, while the minority population makes up 36 percent of the overall population.
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