Congressman Al Green and other officials responded to Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order, which mandates Texas hospitals to collect information on patients’ immigration status in order to track costs associated with the care of unauthorized migrants.
Previous guidance for hospitals did not address immigrant status. The presidential order would require the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to collect this information so that Texas could bill the federal government.
“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’s office stated in a statement. “Texans should not have to shoulder the burden of financially supporting medical care for illegal immigrants.”
The ruling requires Texas hospitals to gather statistics on the costs of medical care supplied to unauthorized immigrants beginning November 1, 2024. Starting in March 2025, directly covered hospitals will be required to provide statistics to the state health commission on a quarterly basis.
Green added that the presidential order is unacceptable because it forces illegal individuals to postpone vital medical operations for fear of abuse based on their citizenship status.
“It is distressing and unacceptable that Governor Abbott’s executive order is compelling undocumented immigrants in Texas to endure such conditions. The inclusion of status-related inquiries will only prolong essential medical interventions, as individuals fear mistreatment based on their citizenship status. These delays will seriously endanger lives and ultimately burden our society even more in the long run. Access to healthcare should be granted equally to everyone, irrespective of their race, gender, beliefs, or citizenship status. Receiving emergency medical services is a fundamental human right that should be upheld, prioritizing public health and overall well-being.”
