Immigrants' Day of Action

Today in Albany the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) held their annual Immigrants' Day of Action. This year their focus was on ensuring access to health care for all. NYIC is working to highlight the devasting impact of the current financial crisis on working families in New York—and particularly on immigrants. According to the NYIC:

"Immigrant New Yorkers are much more likely to be uninsured than the native born—three times as likely, in fact (35% vs. 12%). Immigrants may face further obstructions to health care in the form of language barriers. Many uninsured immigrants forego health care for as long as possible, out of fear that they cannot afford treatment or will suffer immigration consequences. Those diagnosed with chronic conditions often forsake care because of inability to pay. More than half of New York City’s immigrant households survive on incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or roughly $20,000 a year for a family of four."

To learn more about the NYIC's goals, visit their website: www.thenyic.org