Jesús Díaz, a 61-year-old prediabetes woman, had waited months for an appointment at a coronavirus vaccination site in the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas.
But when the undocumented Mexican immigrant emerged last weekend at the University of Texas vaccination clinic in the Rio Grande Valley, after a four-hour wait,An employee told him he would not be vaccinated.
“The vaccines here are exclusive to US citizens and legal residents of this country,” Diaz told The Washington Post, who he was told by an employee. ‘We can’t help you. I am very sorry, but these are the rules ”.
Proof of residency and citizenship is not required to receive a vaccine dose in Texas.
But although Diaz knew, he was also worried that staff members would call immigration services if he caused a scene, so after a short discussion, he gave up his place in the queue and remained unvaccinated.
“I felt so much shame and anger at the same time,” Diaz told The Washington Post. “I felt discriminated against, but I didn’t want to insist.”
Racism, Discrimination and Health Risks
Diaz wasn’t alone. At least 14 people have been mistakenly rejected from university vaccination sites because of their residency or immigration status, a university spokesperson told The Post, illustrating one of the many obstacles undocumented Americans face when getting vaccinated.
Health experts say a deluge of misinformation has targeted the undocumented community, which also faces persistent fears that authorities may verify his immigration status in clinics.
Among Latino immigrants, false claims about vaccines are spreading just as quickly as the virus.
From that moment on, the university apologized for refusing doses of the vaccine to Diaz and other eligible patients, He added that his staff received incorrect instructions on how to interpret the state guide.
“We know you expect better from us, and we deeply regret that we have not maintained our standard of excellence at a time when our community needs us most,” said John H. Krouse, dean of the medical school at the university, in a statement Thursday.
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Undocumented immigrants are being turned down for vaccinations
Joe Biden’s government has promised that Undocumented immigrants will have the same access to coronavirus vaccines as citizens or legal residents. He has also promised that the vaccination sites will be zones free from immigration control.
But some states have already contradicted the Biden government’s position on this issue.
Last month, the Governor of Nebraska, Pete Ricketts, was criticized after saying so did not expect undocumented immigrants working in meat packing facilities to be vaccinated under the state program. Shortly afterward, a Ricketts assistant clarified his comments by noting that athose without legal status should wait at the end of the line
Rejection and fear
UT Health Rio Grande Valley, with a campus on the US-Mexico border, then had to apologize Abraham Díaz tweeted on February 20 that his father had been refused a vaccination because he had no papers.
His story sparked criticism of UTRGV on social media as well a protest by La Unión Del Pueblo Entero, a community organization founded by a civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, where Diaz is an employee.
That said UT Health RGV in a statement on Thursday “We are currently aware of about 14 people affected by our mistakes,” and they were all moved.
“We know you expect better from us, and we deeply regret that we have not maintained our standard of excellence at a time when our community needs us the most.” UT Health RGV said in the statement, which followed an initial tweeted response to Diaz and an apology Saturday that LUPE said was inappropriate.
Update 1: @utrgv my father bc clearly discriminated against because of his immigration status. They’ve given more than 20,000 doses, but just imagine how many unbuttoned people were turned away. What my father wants is a statement saying that undocufolks will be vaccinated. https://t.co/S2ElmCWBva
– Abe Díaz (@_AbeDiaz_) February 21, 2021
But Diaz told The Post that he no longer wants to return to that site after the humiliating episode.
“I really don’t want to go there,” he said. “I am ashamed to return. I want to look for another option where the same will not happen to me again ”.
On Wednesday, the university released a public notice promising that “UT Health RGV would not refuse an eligible person a vaccine based on the person’s residency or immigration status.” The university also encouraged anyone who had previously been denied the vaccine due to residency or immigration status to contact the school to reschedule their appointments.
Díaz said he hopes his experience can teach other undocumented immigrants that if they speak out against injustice, they have a chance to make a difference.
“Let your voice be heard and don’t be afraid,” he said.