By Sher Zieve – Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, TX plans to bill the Mexican government for free services used at the healthcare facility by Mexican national illegal immigrants. In 2005, the county of Dallas exhausted $76.5MM to treat indigents, $27MM of which was not reimbursed. 90% the indigents are reported to have been illegal aliens from Mexico.

The Mexican consulate was quick to respond to the hospital’s plan by calling it "an act of discrimination." County Judge Margaret Keliher ruled in favor of the hospital’s plan.

An official with the Mexican Consulate in Dallas Hugo Juarez was said to have been visibly angry with the judge’s decision when he asked: "How do they know who is Mexican? Nobody asks for your nationality nor immigration status when you go to the hospital."

Dallas County Commissioner Maurine Dickey responded with: “What’s wrong with sending them a bill? We owe it to the taxpayers to at least try.”

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