In a move to address rising healthcare costs in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott has signed an executive order requiring hospitals to track and report the expenses associated with treating illegal immigrants. Abbott vowed that Texas would seek reimbursement from the Biden-Harris administration, arguing that the state’s taxpayers should not have to cover these costs. He made this announcement via social media, reinforcing his commitment to holding the federal government accountable for what he described as the consequences of open-border policies.
The executive order directs the Health and Human Services Commission to begin collecting data on the number of illegal immigrants receiving medical treatment and the related costs. This mandate, which takes effect on November 1, 2024, requires hospitals to gather information on inpatient discharges and emergency visits involving those unlawfully present in the country. The data will be compiled into annual reports, with the first due on January 1, 2026, to Texas’s top state officials.
Abbott’s order comes as part of his broader efforts to push back against federal immigration policies, which he believes have burdened the state’s resources. He argued that the Biden-Harris administration should bear the financial responsibility for the healthcare needs of illegal immigrants. Texas, Abbott asserted, will continue to demand that the federal government covers these costs to relieve the state’s taxpayers.
