Texas hospitals must now ask patients whether they’re lawfully in the country: Will it chase immigrants away from accessing health care?

Official State of Texas Photo

The Associated Press reports that hospitals in Texas yesterday began asking whether they are in the U.S. legally and track the costs of treating undocumented immigrants under an order issued by Republican Governor Greg Abbott.   "Critics fear the change could scare people away from hospitals in Texas.  The mandate is similar to a policy that debuted last year in Florida . . . ."  Sadly, like the placement of razor buoys in the Rio Grande by Governor Abbott in 2023, the Texas policy could literally have life and death consequences.

KJ