In a bold move, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued an executive order that requires public hospitals across the state to gather data on the immigration status of patients and report it to the state government. This directive, known as Order GA 46, was announced on Thursday and is set to take effect on November 1st.
The order directs the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to collect information specifically on illegal immigrants who receive inpatient and emergency care at public hospitals. The aim? To track the healthcare costs incurred by the state for these individuals and, ultimately, to send the bill to the Biden administration. Governor Abbott blames the administration’s border policies for the rising number of illegal migrants entering the U.S. through the Southern Border, which he argues has placed an unfair financial burden on Texas.
“Due to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ open border policies, Texas has had to foot the bill for medical costs for individuals illegally in the state,” Abbott stated. “Texas should not have to shoulder the burden of financially supporting medical care for illegal immigrants.”
Under this new mandate, hospitals will be required to submit quarterly reports on healthcare costs associated with illegal immigrants, with the first reports due on March 1st. By January 1, 2026, hospitals will also need to provide annual reports to the governor, lieutenant governor, and Speaker of the House detailing the previous year’s expenses.
The order also makes it clear that hospitals must inform patients that their responses to questions about immigration status will not impact the care they receive, in accordance with federal law.
However, the order has sparked criticism from organizations like the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), which argues that the mandate is more about political rhetoric than practical solutions. Gabriel Rosales, LULAC’s state director in Texas, expressed concerns about the lack of clarity in the order and the potential fear it could instill in immigrant communities.
“It just creates a lot of fear that’s unnecessary,” Rosales said, emphasizing the need for a pathway to citizenship rather than measures that could deter immigrants from seeking necessary medical care.
As the debate over immigration and healthcare costs continues, this executive order highlights the ongoing tensions between state and federal policies, especially in border states like Texas. With many calling for the Biden administration to take more decisive action on immigration, this move by Governor Abbott is sure to stir further discussion and debate.
