In November 2024, Texas hospitals faced a staggering healthcare cost of nearly $122 million attributed to illegal immigrants, marking the first reporting month under a new executive order signed by Governor Greg Abbott. This order mandated the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (THHSC) to systematically track healthcare usage among individuals not lawfully present in the U.S. In that month alone, over 31,000 hospital visits were recorded from this demographic, which underscores the pressing issue of healthcare strain on Texas’s system due to increased border crossings.
Governor Abbott’s executive directive specifically requires Texas hospitals to submit quarterly data that includes the number of inpatient discharges and emergency visits by illegal immigrants, alongside the associated costs of care. This initiative aims to quantify the financial impact of illegal immigration on the healthcare system, with a larger report expected from THHSC on January 1, 2026. By monitoring these figures, the state aspires to establish a clearer understanding of the burden that unauthorized immigration places on public health resources, a concern heightened by the recent surge in crossings under the Biden administration.
Abbott’s administration has indicated that illegal immigration contributes significantly to the healthcare challenges facing Texas, leading to an increased strain on hospital services. Andrew Mahaleris, a spokesperson for the governor, emphasized that these figures reflect the “dramatic financial impact” of illegal immigration on the state’s hospitals. In this context, the governor has expressed hopes for reduced healthcare costs should immigration policies align more closely with the stricter measures advocated during Donald Trump’s presidency, which saw a notable decrease in illegal border crossings.
The Texas House Committee on Public Health has also engaged with this issue, reviewing legislative proposals that seek to formalize Abbott’s initiatives into law. Representative Mike Olcott from Fort Worth is spearheading a bill that builds on the governor’s findings and aims to codify the recent data collection efforts as a continuing state practice. This legislative push reflects ongoing concerns about unauthorized immigration and its broader implications for public health and safety systems.
Despite the focus on data collection for individuals using hospital services, the Texas Hospitals Association has affirmed that hospitals are legally mandated to provide care regardless of patients’ immigration status. They maintain that this requirement should not discourage individuals from seeking necessary medical assistance. With their commitment to life-saving healthcare, hospitals in Texas remain dedicated to treating all patients who need care, reinforcing the principle that healthcare must be accessible to everyone, regardless of ability to pay.
In conclusion, Texas’s recent efforts to quantify healthcare costs associated with illegal immigration highlight a challenging intersection of public health and immigration policy. The state is grappling with the implications of rising costs while attempting to uphold healthcare access for all residents. As data collection continues and legislative efforts unfold, the community must navigate these complex issues, balancing financial realities with ethical obligations to provide necessary medical care.
