Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered hospitals in the state to collect data on patients’ immigration status, claiming that Texas is bearing the financial burden of providing medical care to undocumented immigrants, CBS News reports.
Through an executive order, Abbott directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to require hospitals, including those participating in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, to collect information on inpatient discharges and emergency visits by unauthorized immigrants, as well as the associated costs. This data collection will begin on November 1st.
Abbott justifies the move by citing record levels of migrant apprehensions at the US-Mexico border, arguing that Texas is disproportionately impacted by the cost of providing healthcare to undocumented individuals. He attributes this influx to President Biden’s “open border policies.”
The order, however, is likely to face criticism from immigration rights advocates who argue that such policies discourage undocumented immigrants from seeking necessary medical care due to fear of legal repercussions.
Democrat Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Texas condemned the order, labeling it “social engineering” and accusing Abbott of seeking to “make ICE officers out of doctors.”
Experts like Julia Gelatt, an analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, warn that asking about immigration status can deter individuals from accessing care, creating a chilling effect on healthcare access for undocumented populations.
Abbott suggests that Texas will seek reimbursement from the federal government for these expenses, but the feasibility of this remains uncertain.
This action is the latest in a series of stricter immigration laws and measures enacted by Republican-led states. Florida, for example, passed a similar law last year requiring hospitals to collect data on patients’ immigration status.
Texas has also been actively challenging the Biden administration’s immigration policies through lawsuits and political action. Abbott has orchestrated the busing of tens of thousands of migrants to Democratic-led cities, deployed the National Guard to strengthen the border, and directed state troopers to arrest migrants for trespassing.
