Jesús Díaz, a prediabetic of 61 years, had waited months to get an appointment at a coronavirus vaccination site in the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas.
But when the undocumented Mexican immigrant came to the fore from the line at the University of Texas vaccination clinic in the Rio Grande Valley last weekend, after a four-hour wait, a staff member told him no would be vaccinated.
“The vaccines here are exclusive for US citizens and legal residents of this country,” said Díaz to The Washington Post, as told by a staff member. “We cannot help you. I’m really sorry, but these are the rules. ”
No proof of residency and citizenship is required to receive a vaccine dose in Texas .
But even though Diaz knew about it, he also feared that members staff could call immigration authorities if he caused a scene, so after a brief discussion, he gave up his place in line and left unvaccinated.
“I felt so much shame and anger at the same time,” Diaz told The Washington Post. “I felt discriminated against, but I did not want to continue insisting.”
Racism, discrimination and health risks
Díaz was not 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 barriers undocumented Americans face in getting vaccinated.
Health experts say a flood of misinformation has targeted the undocumented community , who also faces persistent fears that authorities may verify their immigration status at clinics.
Among Latino immigrants, false claims about vaccines are spreading as fast as the virus.
Since then, the university has apologized for denying the vaccine doses to Díaz and other eligible patients, and added that its staff received incorrect instructions on how to interpret the state guide.
“We know you expect better from us, and we deeply regret not maintaining our standard of excellence at a time when our community needs us most,” he said. John H. Krouse, dean of the university’s medical school, in a Thursday Statement.
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Undocumented immigrants are rejected for vaccines
The Joe Biden administration has promised that undocumented immigrants will have the same access to coronavirus vaccines as citizens or legal residents. It has also promised that the vaccination sites will be zones free of immigration control.
But some states have already contradicted the position of the Biden administration on the matter.
Last month, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts was criticized after to say that did not expect undocumented immigrants working in meat packing facilities to be vaccinated under the state program. Shortly after, an aide to Ricketts clarified his comments by noting that those without legal status would have to wait at the end of the line .
Rejection and fear
UT Health Rio Grande Valley, with a campus on the border between the United States and Mexico, was forced to apologize after Abraham Díaz tweeted the 20 February that his father was denied a vaccine because he was undocumented.
His story sparked criticism of UTRGV on social media and a protest by La Unión Del Pueblo Entero , a community organization founded by civil rights leader César Chávez, where Diaz is a staff member.
UT Health RGV said in a statement Thursday that “we are currently aware of of approximately 14 people who were affected by our mistakes, ”and they were all temple do rescheduled.
“We know that you expect better from us, and we deeply regret not maintaining 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 clearly discriminated against my father bc of his immigration status. They’ve given 20 k + doses but imagine how many undocufolks were turned away. What my father wants wants a statement saying undocufolks will be getting vaccinated. https://t.co/S2ElmCWBva
– Abe Díaz (@_AbeDiaz_) February 21, 2021
But Diaz told The Post that he no longer wishes 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 find another option where the same thing will not happen to me again. ”
On Wednesday, the university published a public notice that promised that“ UT Health RGV would not deny a vaccine to any eligible person based on the residence or immigration status of the person ”. The university also encouraged anyone previously denied the vaccine due to residency or immigration status to contact the school to reschedule appointments.
Díaz said that he hopes his experience can teach other undocumented immigrants that if they speak out against injustices, they have the opportunity to change things.
“Make your voice heard and don’t be afraid,” he said.