Gabriel Rosales was taught to always stand up for his community.

“The way I got involved was both of my parents were activist in the '60-'70s,” Rosales said.

As the state director of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Rosales is fired up about Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s latest executive order concerning migrant health care. 

What You Need To Know

  • The governor has directed Texas public hospitals to collect information on the immigration status of patients, intending to track the cost to treat people who are undocumented

  • The Texas Hospital Association is working to clarify what this new executive action means for hospitals and undocumented patients

  • Rosales believes that mandating hospitals to ask about someone’s immigration status will discourage migrants from seeking medical car

  • Hospitals have been directed to collect citizenship information starting Nov. 1

“He’s focusing attention on something that’s very unnecessary, and very, to me, mean spirited,” Rosales said.

The governor has directed Texas public hospitals to collect information on the immigration status of patients, intending to track the cost to treat people who are undocumented.

Abbott says the state will use that information to seek reimbursement from the federal government for medical expenses it has incurred.

“The facts are they are already afraid to go—because of their status—without even asking. So that just compounds that,” said Rosales.

The Texas Hospital Association is working to clarify what this new executive action means for hospitals and undocumented patients. The group said in a statement, “Right now, hospitals don’t ask about patient immigration status as a condition of treatment. Hospitals are required by law to provide life-saving treatment to anyone, regardless of ability to pay or status.”

Rosales believes that mandating hospitals to ask about someone’s immigration status will discourage migrants from seeking medical care.

“I think it will increase the number of people that don’t seek attention because of the political games this gentleman is playing with people’s lives,” Rosales said.

Rosales says this latest order paints a picture that migrants are using state resources and not contributing. A new report from the institute on taxation and economic policy revealed that in 2022, nearly 2 million undocumented Texans paid $4.9 billion in state and local taxes.

“They fill those jobs,” Rosales said. “And they’re paying. They’re buying cars. They’re buying homes.”

Hospitals have been directed to collect citizenship information starting Nov. 1.

“It’s just a complete attack, a slap in the face to the Latino community and what they contribute to this economy,” Rosales said.

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