ALLENTOWN, PA. (AP) — Junior Clase’s cluttered kitchen table paints a picture of his life in the United States. Scattered across it are items he sends back to the Dominican Republic and a plastic medical brace for his wife, Solibel Olaverria, who suffers from severe health issues.
Olaverria was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm shortly after moving to the U.S. and underwent surgery, which left her in a coma. As her husband continues to fight for her care, he received alarming suggestions from hospital authorities to send her back home, fearing it would put her life at risk.
This troubling practice—often referred to as “medical deportation” or “medical repatriation”—occurs when hospitals transfer uninsured patients back to their countries without proper legal oversight or full consent. Advocates emphasize the ethical concerns surrounding this process, often labeled as private deportation without legal due process.
Professor Lori Nessel from Seton Hall University refers to these actions as a form of deportation devoid of immigration court involvement. Federal regulations are scarce, leading to a disjointed response across states and institutions, despite rising numbers of affected cases.
In 2023, for instance, the Free Migration Project recorded an increase in patients struggling against medical deportation, indicating a surge in complexity and volume of cases than ever noted before. The repercussions of the recent changes in federal Medicaid laws are expected to exacerbate the situation, leaving more immigrants uninsured and potentially subject to repatriation.
As Junior Clase navigates the grim reality of his wife's hospitalization and potential deportation, local advocates mobilize support to prevent her transfer. After protests and media coverage raised awareness, a new law was enacted in Philadelphia, mandating hospitals to obtain explicit consent before any repatriation, marking a pivotal win for immigrant rights.
Even amidst bureaucratic hurdles, Clase spends his days visiting Olaverria, nurturing hope and love as her health gradually improves, showing the undeniable strength and dedication of families facing such dire situations.
