Some activists fear that a recent executive order in Texas could discourage immigrants from seeking medical care.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed an executive order requiring the state to “collect information on patients who are not legally present in the United States and the costs of treating those patients.”

The order is expected to come into force on November 1.

Christian Piatt is a spokesperson for the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas, which offers legal assistance primarily to undocumented asylum seekers.

Piatt said: “The impact of this, whether intended or not, will be to make people feel intimidated and reluctant to use these basic services that we believe all people are entitled to. They come from a background in another country, their home country, where the government is not trustworthy, right? They have been persecuted by their government, so they will be suspicious of any government.”

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Governor Abbott’s office declined to be interviewed but referred us to the relevant press release, which states: “Texans should not have to bear the burden of funding the health care of illegal immigrants.”

According to Abbott’s office, once the final costs are determined, the state will try to recoup the money from the federal government.

This goes beyond Texas and is part of a larger effort to prevent American taxpayer dollars from funding health care for illegal immigrants.

In August, 15 Republican attorneys general sued the Biden administration over a rule that would allow DACA recipients to apply for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach said the Biden administration “should not be given a free pass to violate federal law.”

A similar hospital tracking initiative in Florida released its first report this year.

The state found that from June to December 2023, 0.8% of hospital visits were by undocumented immigrants – less than 1% of the total operating costs of $566 million.

Alexis Tsoukalas is a senior policy analyst at the Florida Policy Institute.

“We know that immigrants are vital to Florida, including illegal immigrants. We know that illegal immigrants pay about $1.8 billion in state and local taxes in Florida alone. … And of course, even if you can’t work or you’re not working, you’re a child, an older adult, you still have value as a person,” Tsoukalas said.

There is evidence that such measures can have a deterrent effect on migrants seeking help.

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According to a Politico analysis, Medicaid spending on illegal immigrants in Florida dropped dramatically after hospitals began asking patients about their immigration status.

In addition, a 2020 survey found that a quarter of mixed-status families avoid some non-monetary government benefit programs for fear they could affect future green card applications.

The Texas Hospital Association said in a statement while still reviewing the order: “Hospitals are required by law to provide life-saving care to every person, regardless of their ability to pay or status.”