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With the release of 2 FDA approved COVID vaccines in December, both people who have not yet had the coronavirus and those who have already had a confirmed case of COVID are encouraged to get the vaccination. As part of the vaccine rollout, some Trump administration officials have suggested that vaccine recipients should provide information including birth date, driver’s license or passport number will help monitor the vaccine rollout and track its success.
With over 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, many who work in the food and service industries, if they do not get vaccinated due to fears of deportation, all Americans will be put at risk. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is advising that people who have already had COVID should get the vaccine because of the severe health risks associated with the virus and the possibility of reinfection.
The Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo told Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar that his state would not comply with a request to provide personal information in order to receive the vaccine, saying that requirement would “freeze out many immigrants.”
Many of the nation’s 11 million undocumented immigrants work in food and service jobs, including jobs as cooks, food servers, health care providers, hotel and hospital housekeeping workers, elder caregivers, nannies, farmworkers and meatpackers. If millions of immigrants hesitate to give private information to qualify for the vaccine, the virus could linger longer, said health officials.
Immigration activists and lawmakers are working to ensure that undocumented immigrants are eligible for the COVID vaccine.
Free COVID-19 tests continue to be provided in the City of Chicago and throughout Illinois “regardless of birth country or current citizenship status.”
Immigration law is complex and changes quickly. To ensure that your rights are protected a skilled immigration attorney can put their experience to work for you and review your circumstances to help you make the decisions to help you succeed. If you need help with an immigration issue, please contact the experienced immigration lawyers online today.
