Program for illegals draws fire

By: MARGARET GIBBONS , Times Herald Staff

COURTHOUSE - Montgomery County's Prenatal Service Program (PSP), which targets pregnant illegal aliens who can't get health insurance, is under fire from several citizens who contend that the undocumented immigrants should be deported rather than be provided with health services.

However, county officials defend the program.
"Deportation is not in our domain," county human services Director Joseph Roynan said. "Our domain is the care of infants, to make as sure as possible that they are not born with birth defects or other disabilities regardless of the status of the infant's mother."
"Before that child is born, the mother is here illegally and should be deported," maintained East Norriton resident Ruth Miller, claiming that the county was facilitating illegal immigration by offering the prenatal program.