Secure borders would deter spread of diseases

Before 1924, every legal immigrant was checked and prevented from U.S. entry with any infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.

Today, before a green card can be issues, legals must be free of communicable diseases.

The American Physicians and Surgeons Journal in 2005 and other health care organizations report that many illegal immigrants carry diseases which overtax the American medical system. New diseases as well as old ones that were almost gone are emerging.

Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis has arrived in America via Mexico and other third world countries. Most tuberculosis has been eradicated in the U.S., but each illegal with MDR-TB can cough and infect up to 30 other people even though symptoms may not show up immediately.

Chagis disease was unknown in America, but is common in Latin America, where the reduviid bug thrives, and effects 18 million, causing 50 million deaths. It can only be transmitted through the blood supply and is incurable.

There have only been 40 cases in the last 40 years in America of Hansen's disease, better known as leprosy. America has over 700 cases now. The Columbia News Service reports 120 new cases in America in 2005.

The solution in these health care problems is to secure our borders, thereby protecting us from illegal immigrants. This is the responsibility of the federal government as stated in the U.S. Constitution, Article IV, Section 4. So far the U.S. government has given us a pitiful performance in protecting our borders.

Aileen Boyce
Lodi

Reader Feedback

Daniel wrote on Apr 9, 2007 11:25 AM:

" Richard McIntyre: Unfortunately, you wouldn't be allowed to blog without a license from Dept of Homeland Security (which would definitely exist). Since you carry a Koran, they'd probably allow that; but, Christianity would be their enemy. Whatever it was that attracted you or your ancestry into this country (and I don't think you are native), simply won't be here anymore. This must sound kind of nice to you, doesn't it? "

Report Abuse

Daniel wrote on Apr 9, 2007 11:21 AM:

" Richard McIntyre: The real war is one which seeks to completely terminate (or render irrelevant but really erase) all Canadian, USA and Mexico borders, by 2010. Gee! That's only 3 years from now. There wouldn't be a Mexico to take occupation of California. No USA for Mexico to occupy. No Canada either. All three countries. Gone. You'd have your wish, and more. Is that what you'd really want? "

Report Abuse

Daniel wrote on Apr 9, 2007 11:10 AM:

" Richard McIntyre: I hate to break the bad news to you, but you are terribly misinformed. There are two separate wars against the USA right now. The one you are referring to, I believe, is the Mexican war which seeks to move the US border a little bit to the north, around Oregon would be fine, as far as they are concerned. Yawn. That's a little baby war, for kids playing in the sandbox. "

Report Abuse

Richard McIntyre wrote on Apr 8, 2007 7:16 PM:

" Yeah, I guess as long as we don't near extinction then we're in a lot better shape then those civilized human beings (Natives) who first occupied North America. You're right, we shouldn't allow infectious diseases to cross the border so as not to allow history to repeat itself. After all, it's us who go around infecting entire populations with diseases (HIV Virus ,the so-called small pox vaccine, in Africa) intentionally. God forbid the same thing would happen to us. Democracy=Hypocrisy. "

Report Abuse

Ivan Dixon wrote on Apr 8, 2007 2:03 PM:

" Of course I addressed Aileen's letter, I agreed with every point she made. "

Report Abuse

Daniel wrote on Apr 8, 2007 12:29 PM:

" vaccinations. Now, there's another story. "

Report Abuse

Daniel wrote on Apr 8, 2007 12:26 AM:

" Nobody got my joke. "Trade" Get it? Ha ha. "

Report Abuse

Daniel wrote on Apr 8, 2007 12:25 AM:

" blogname Ivan Dixon: You did't address Aileen's letter. You seem to think it's a discrimination scheme. "

Report Abuse

To Richard McIntyre ... wrote on Apr 7, 2007 10:54 PM:

" Even 1 infectious disease should not be welcomed with "Open arms"! Would you like to be the one who catches a incurable disease from someone who was too lazy to apply for immigration legally? Do you deserve such illness? NO! And neither does anyone else! "

Report Abuse

Ivan Dixon wrote on Apr 7, 2007 8:04 PM:

" Great letter Aileen! Another thing we need to do is make sure that the illegal aliens who are already here don't get vaccinations or treatment here in the U.S. Sure, by doing so, we risk creating epidemics that might spread to the white population but that is the price we have to pay to show these people that we will have no mercy on the tired, the poor or the huddled masses of their teeming shores. Keep up the good work! "

Report Abuse

Richard McIntyre wrote on Apr 7, 2007 11:27 AM:

" Earth to Aileen, come in Aileen. Small Pox was unknown to America until those filthy English (illegal aliens) decided to invade and infect hundreds of thousands of real Americans (Natives) and almost wipe them from the face of the earth. I'm pretty sure extinction is far worse then a few hundred cases of infectious diseases brought in by the true owners of California, the Mexicans. "

Report Abuse

Daniel wrote on Apr 7, 2007 10:34 AM:

" Sen. Dianne Feinstein promotes WTO trade with our neighbors. "

Report Abuse

Dawes wrote on Apr 7, 2007 10:15 AM:

" LODI HAS BEEN TARGETED FOR RECONQUISTA!!! BETTER LEARN SPANISH, GET USED TO GANG CRIME, DRUNK DRIVERS, AND LOUD MUSIC. "

Report Abuse

It is sad to know... wrote on Apr 7, 2007 7:35 AM:

" That those who have diseases that CAN INFECT INNOCENT PEOPLE....are INVADING our country and being allowed to infect and maybe even spread an epidemic! "

Report Abuse

Comments on this story are now closed.

Archives

Story Tools

Indexes

Secure borders would deter spread of diseases

Reader Feedback

Special Sections

Photo Reprints

Find Ads

Weather

Services

Contact Us

Office

Newsroom

Subscriptions

Advertising

Classifieds