This revelation comes from Darin Selnick, a senior policy advisor for the advocacy group Concerned Veterans for America, who urged the government to investigate this abuse and to protect and provide more care for the country's veterans. (Related: Texas Rangers, Border Patrol reclaim Rio Grande island previously used as base of operations by Mexican drug cartels.)
When illegal immigrants held by ICE require healthcare, they are typically treated on-site by medical professionals. However, if a specialist or emergency care is required, the immigrants and ICE may appeal for them to be transported to independent private providers.
In such cases, ICE contracts with the VA's Financial Service Center (VA-FSC) to process reimbursements to those providers – paid for by taxpayers.
According to a report from July, ICE has hundreds of letters of understanding in which its Health Service Corps will reimburse providers at Medicare rates. These billing processes use the VA-FSC's Healthcare Claims Processing System, a portal that allows providers to submit and view claims and access resources supposedly intended for veterans.
VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes stressed in a statement to Fox News Digital that providing billing services is not the same as providing or funding the healthcare of migrants.
"VA does not provide or fund any healthcare services to individuals detained in [ICE] custody," claimed Hayes. "At no time are any VA healthcare professionals or VA funds used for this purpose."
Veterans "mad" about care resources being diverted to illegals
Selnick, an Air Force veteran, warned that he has spoken with many veterans about this clear case of government abuse, "and everyone I've talked to who is a veteran – it makes them mad."
"The VA's mission is to serve veterans. It's not to help ICE and the Border Patrol. It's not to help them go ahead and process medical claims and pay medical claims and make it easy for the unauthorized migrants to get healthcare and dental care," said Selnick.
"The mission of the VA is to serve veterans, not to serve unauthorized migrants. Meanwhile, veterans are having a hard time getting healthcare. They're literally dying because they can't get mental health in a timely manner. They can't get cancer treatment. Bills are being sent to them because they're not paying the providers on time. So, it makes it hard for veterans."
Selnick warned that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is planning to expand the migrant medical processing services outsourced to the VA at the expense of possible billing services that could serve veterans.
"It's got to stop. Congress needs to investigate this. Last year, Mayorkas said in testimony that they were working with the VA to go ahead and expand this, possibly in medical centers. We don't know exactly how deep this is. It's got to be investigated," said Selnick.
Watch this clip from Fox News as Darin Selnick discusses the VA's role in providing medical care to illegal immigrants.
This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.
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