Texas Hospitals to Track Immigration Status

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued an executive order requiring public hospitals to collect data on patients' immigration statuses. The order, known as GA 46, mandates that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission gather information on illegal immigrants who seek inpatient and emergency care. This initiative aims to track healthcare costs associated with undocumented individuals, with the intention of billing the Biden administration for these expenses, which Abbott attributes to what he describes as the administration's "open border policies." In a statement, Abbott expressed that Texas has been burdened with the medical costs incurred by illegal immigrants, stating, "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." The new rule is set to take effect on November 1, and it includes a provision requiring hospitals to inform patients that their immigration status will not affect the medical care they receive. Critics of the order, including Gabriel Rosales, the state director for LULAC in Texas, have raised concerns about the potential for fear and stigma among undocumented immigrants. Rosales emphasized the need for a pathway to citizenship rather than data collection that could exacerbate anxiety within the community. Additionally, Sergio Lira, president of Greater Houston LULAC, highlighted the significant economic contributions of undocumented immigrants, noting they contribute $26.2 billion to the national economy.