Congressman García’s Statement on Access to Tests and Medical Treatment For All Regarding of Immigration Status

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García issued the following statement as the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives prepare legislative proposals to address the public health and economic impacts of the Coronavirus:

"Immigrants work, raise families and contribute to every single community in America—from Arizona to Maine, from Illinois to Georgia. Immigrants are teachers, doctors, members of Congress, engineers, business owners and caregivers—they are in every line of work.

"As my colleagues in Congress, the White House, and federal agencies prepare legislation and protocols to address the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19, let's be clear about one thing: protecting community health requires that every single person has access to virus testing and virus treatment—without regard to where they live, ability to pay, or immigration status.

"Access to tests and treatment should be as indiscriminate as the virus.

"The public health principle of keeping the entire community safe means exactly that -- we must keep everyone in our communities healthy and safe, irrespective of ability to pay and immigration status.

"As policymakers with responsibility for public health and safety, we must be able to assure every single person in our communities that they can go to a clinic or hospital if they are sick -- without having to worry about risks that may relate to immigration status for themselves or their families. No should have to be afraid if they will get detained if they need to seek treatment for themselves or their families.

"Ensuring access to medical treatment and testing for suspected COVID-19 exposure is essential to any effort aimed at mitigating this public health crisis. A sick individual poses a risk to anyone, regardless of ability to pay or citizenship. Providing treatment for all is the right public health approach and it is the moral thing to do."

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