Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order on Aug. 8 requiring Texas public hospitals to collect the immigration status of patients, according to a press release.
The order directs the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to collect immigration information to track costs incurred while caring for undocumented migrants. The state of Texas could then bill the federal government for these costs.
“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 said in a statement. “Texans should not have to shoulder the burden of financially supporting medical care for illegal immigrants.”
Under the order, Texas public hospitals — including the Dell Seton Medical Center — will collect immigrant information starting Nov 1. Direct-covered hospitals will report quarterly data to the commission no later than March 2025. Carrie Williams, the chief communications officer for the Texas Hospital Association, said the association is closely analyzing the order to determine its impact.
“This would be a new requirement, and we are reviewing it as quickly as possible,” Williams said in a statement. “Right now, hospitals don’t ask about patient immigration status as a condition of treatment. Hospitals are required by law to provide life-saving treatment to anyone, regardless of ability to pay or status.”
Public relations senior Alexis Garcia said the executive order threatens her Mexican heritage. Garcia participated in Monarch, a UT program for undocumented and temporary status students, before the University dissolved it due to a potential violation of U.S. immigration laws and Texas Senate Bill 17.
Garcia said she thinks undocumented students will be fearful of being racially profiled and less likely to go to the doctor when sick because of the order.
“I definitely think that our own government’s prejudices are getting in the way of the greater good because we’re almost dehumanizing the word immigrant,” Garcia said. “It’s important to remember these are still people of flesh and blood. On top of that, we’re also associating the word immigrant with Mexicans, when there are many different types of immigrants.”
