Over the last year Welfare Reform, Immigration Reform and the new Federal Budget have radically changed policies towards legal and illegal immigrants in the United States. The following highlights were obtained from the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition.

• Immigrants without Legal Permanent Residency (LPR) with serious medical conditions or other compelling reasons (ex. person fleeing an abusive spouse) for needing to remain in the US have traditionally obtained humanitarian voluntary departure status from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) or an immigration judge. This status is now subject to either a 60 or 120-day limit regardless of the individual’s situation.

• Under the new law, a person fearing persecution in another country has one year from when they entered the country to apply for asylum or they are forever barred from doing so.

• Not-for-profit agencies are not obligated to report undocumented people to the INS. If a person applies for LPR, the INS will request information from hospitals about the individual’s use of Free Care, which may lead to the applicant being, denied LPR.

• The Children’s Medical Security Plan provides free or low cost health coverage for preventative and primary care services for uninsured children not covered by Mass Health. Through this fund, all children in Massachusetts, regardless of immigration status, should have health insurance.

• A client’s health insurance alternatives depend on their immigration status. If you need advice on a patient’s health insurance options, you may call Health Care for All at 1-800-272-4232.