Some advocates are concerned about a recent executive order in Texas that may deter immigrants from seeking medical care.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order directing the state to gather information on patients who are not legally present in the United States and the expenses of the care provided to them.
This order is scheduled to go into effect on November 1.
Christian Piatt, a spokesperson for Human Rights Initiative of North Texas, which offers legal services primarily to undocumented asylum-seekers, expressed concern over the potential impact of the order.
Piatt stated, “The consequences of this action, whether intentional or not, could make individuals feel threatened and hesitant to utilize these essential services that we believe all people should have access to. They are coming from a country where the government is not trustworthy, where they have faced persecution, so they will naturally be cautious of any government involvement.”
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The office of Gov. Abbott declined an interview but directed us to their statement announcing the order, which emphasizes that “Texans should not have to bear the financial burden of providing medical care for illegal immigrants.”
According to Abbott’s office, once the final expenses are calculated, the state will seek reimbursement from the federal government.
This initiative goes beyond Texas and is part of a broader effort to prevent American taxpayer money from funding healthcare for undocumented immigrants.
In August, 15 Republican attorneys general sued the Biden administration over a regulation that would enable DACA recipients to apply for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach stated that the Biden administration “should not be able to violate federal law with impunity.”
Similarly, Florida hospitals began a tracking effort that resulted in the release of the first report this year.
The state discovered that undocumented immigrants accounted for only 0.8% of hospital visits in the period from June to December 2023, constituting less than 1% of the total operating costs of $566 million.
Alexis Tsoukalas, a senior policy analyst at the Florida Policy Institute, emphasized the importance of immigrants, including undocumented ones, in Florida’s economy.
Tsoukalas said, “We are aware that immigrants, including undocumented ones, play a crucial role in Florida, contributing about $1.8 billion in state and local taxes in the state alone…Regardless of employment status, age, or other factors, every individual has inherent value.”
There is evidence suggesting that policies like these may discourage migrants from seeking healthcare.
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A Politico analysis revealed a significant drop in Medicaid spending on undocumented immigrants in Florida after hospitals began inquiring about patients’ immigration status.
Additionally, a 2020 survey indicated that a quarter of mixed-status families chose to avoid certain government benefit programs due to concerns about potential impacts on future green card applications.
In a statement, the Texas Hospital Association affirmed that hospitals are obligated by law to provide life-saving treatment to all individuals, regardless of their ability to pay or their immigration status.
