DENVER -- Mexican officials have agreed to transport some illegal immigrants with serious medical needs back to Mexico and help them find appropriate health care there, Denver health officials said.

Under an agreement between the Mexican Consulate in Denver and the Denver Health and Hospital Authority, patients receiving kidney dialysis who are willing to return will be sent to the consulate.

Mexican officials also will repatriate other illegal immigrants with other serious medical needs, said Juan Marcos Gutierrez Gonzalez, Mexico's consul general in Denver. However, there are no assurances that the health care there would be free.

Only six people have taken up the offer so far this year, 7NEWS reported. The idea isn't new because hospitals have always tried to work with the Mexican consulate over the years but now they're more in tune because illegal immigration is such a hot-button issue.

At Denver Health Hospital, they are not allowed to deny emergency medical care to anyone by law. But these days, if they see that a patient is a Mexican national and needs some follow-up care, they offer up to put the patient in contact with the Mexican consulate.

"In most of the cases, after an accident, immigrants will choose to go back. They have some specific condition and we have to work that out," Gonzalez said.

He said that his office always try to help Mexican nationals and that may mean repatriation -- but only if the Mexican illegal immigrant wants that.

"I'm not chasing any Mexican with some illness, 'Hey, go back to Mexico!' I just cannot do that," Gonzalez said. "I won't repatriate someone with the flu or a cold. We are talking chronic diseases, difficult medical conditions."

"They are so scared to go because they are afraid that somebody will turn them in to the immigration department," said radio host Salvador Cuevas. He said few Mexican nationals will jump at this offer for fear of deportation.

"They all usually wait until it's an emergency to go and visit the hospital," Cuevas said.

Patricia Gabow, chief of the Denver Health and Hospital Authority, said several patients have already been sent to the consulate. Mexican officials said six were in the process of heading home to continue dialysis treatment there. Gutierrez was not sure how many people would qualify.

Some illegal immigrants said they have little incentive to return because health care in Mexico is not comparable to what they get in the United States.

Eliona Meza, who said has lived in the U.S. illegally for 12 years, said returning to Mexico would threaten the life of her son, a U.S. citizen who suffers from Down syndrome and congenital heart defects.

She said she has remained in the United States to ensure her son gets proper treatment, including surgeries, medication and checkups.

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