Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed an executive order on Thursday forcing public hospitals in the state to document patients’ immigration status so the cost of illegal aliens on the healthcare system can be calculated.
Once the cost is determined by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the state will bill the federal government since it is responsible for America’s open southern border.
“Issued an Executive Order today directing Texas HHSC to collect healthcare costs for illegal immigrants in Texas,” Abbott wrote on X Thursday. “Texans shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden of those costs. We will ensure the Biden-Harris Administration pays Texas back.”
Issued an Executive Order today directing @TexasHHSC to collect healthcare costs for illegal immigrants in Texas.
Texans shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden of those costs.
We will ensure the Biden-Harris Administration pays Texas back.
More: https://t.co/MoKLnuE33P pic.twitter.com/YIW4E8yLfM
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) August 8, 2024
Abbot also stated, ““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. Texans should not have to shoulder the burden of financially supporting medical care for illegal immigrants.”
Hospitals in the state are expected to begin the process by Nov. 1.
With Florida rolling out a similar law in 2023, this could spread to other states being financially impacted by the burden of illegal immigration.
