The impact of immigration on our public health system is often overlooked.  The cost of medical care for uninsured immigrants is passed onto the taxpayer, and strains the financial stability of our health care community.  The public is invited to hear Retired Lieutenant Commander John L McKenney of the United States Public Health Service present an overview of America’s Health Care delivery to detained illegal and criminal aliens.  The presentation is Thursday, June 17, at the Bullard Sanford Memorial Library, 520 W Huron, Vassar  from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m..
 
Vassar resident LCDR McKenney (ret) served 12 years in the United States Air Force. He  obtained his Bachelor's degree in Nursing and was commissioned in the USPHS.  He was detailed to the Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service Health Care Program which provides health care to alien detainees.  He also accompanied the deportation of aliens with health and mental conditions while serving as the Chief Flight Nurse for the Immigration and Naturalization Service. 

LCDR McKenney gained first hand experience of American Immigration working with U.S. 
Border Patrol.  While under The Secretary of Health and Human Services, LCDR McKenney assisted in the establishment of the Refugee Health Clinic for the Haitaiin Refugees at Guantanamo, Bay Cuba in 1992.  He participated in the Repatriation Program of Mariel Cubans making 72 flights to Havana, Cuba returning 1,500 criminal and mentally ill Cubans. The Mariel boatlift was a mass exodus of Cubans who departed from Cuba's Mariel Harbor for the United States between April 15, and October 31, 1980.  The exodus started to have negative political implications for U.S. president Jimmy Carter when it was discovered that Castro emptied his prisons during the boatlift period.  Many released inmates were eventually arrested, convicted and jailed nationwide for crimes they committed after their arrival in the US.

LCDR McKenney served as a liaison officer for three Federal Prisons and multiple jails thru out Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee,  and Eastern Texas. As the liaison officer and Program Management officer for the New Orleans District INS office,  he  was responsible for the medical care, coordination and movement of criminal aliens outside the contract jail, investigation of suspected fraud cases with referral to US Attorneys for prosecution and alien deaths and assaults.  McKenney worked with Bureau of Prisons health providers when an alien was being released to Immigration custody.

The meeting is sponsored by The Western Thumb TEA Party which is committed to educating family, friends and neighbors.  Part of the TEA party experience is gaining enough information to make knowledgeable choices.  There will be information on immigration, health care, cap and trade.  Everyone is welcome.  For more information visit www.tuscolatea.org or email tuscolatea@yahoo.com or call 989-272-5416.