By james art 
LAREDO, Texas (KGNS) – On Nov. 1, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed an executive order requiring hospitals to ask patients about their citizenship status. The new rule has drawn mixed reactions from the Laredo community, with some concerned about potential impacts on health care access.
Under the order, all Texas hospitals must now ask patients if they are US citizens. Although the question is mandatory, patients are not required to answer and no one will be denied medical care based on their answer.
For some, however, the extra step raises concerns. Laredo resident Jesus Martinez fears the question could discourage people from seeking help. “It doesn’t matter where they’re from or how they got here — the fact is they’re human beings,” Martinez said. “If they’re here and they’re in trouble — they’re hurt and in pain — that’s why we’re here to help, no matter what. Because we are the gateway to Texas; we are a Gateway City and we welcome anyone from other places, other countries.”
The Texas government says the purpose of the data collection is to better understand the costs of providing medical care to undocumented immigrants and to seek federal reimbursement.
Online responses on the KGNS Facebook page have also been mixed. One viewer expressed support for the order, writing: “I think it’s a great idea to collect stats! I have been hospitalized many times and the medical bills are high even with health insurance. I tried to ask for help but was told they only help people who don’t have insurance. It would be interesting to know who do not have health insurance and are US citizens vs. people who come to get health care and are not covered. If it’s people who aren’t from around here, that means the hospitals can’t send them medical reports for what they owe, so they most likely have to get the funds from somewhere else.
However, another viewer expressed concern, saying, “This policy could violate EMTALA, which guarantees emergency care to everyone, no questions about citizenship. It also risks patient privacy and may violate HIPAA by including personal information that does not belong in a hospital setting. It also raises civil rights concerns and calls into question basic rights to privacy and due process. Hospitals are likely to avoid asking about citizenship status to prevent potential lawsuits.
KGNS reached out to Laredo’s two major hospitals, both of which confirmed they are complying with the new order.
Laredo Medical Center said, “We are committed to complying with state and federal regulations and have updated our processes as necessary to comply with this executive order since it was signed in August. As required by federal law, we will provide medical evaluation and stabilization treatment for anyone who presents for treatment in the emergency department, regardless of ability to pay. We will provide care regardless of how the patient answers or chooses not to answer any of the questions, including those related to citizenship status, which are required by Executive Order No. GA-46. Because this follow-up has just begun, we do not have statistics on the citizenship status of our patient cohort.
Doctors Hospital of Laredo also confirmed its compliance, saying, “Doctors Hospital of Laredo is complying with the executive order announced by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in August 2024. Patients at Doctors Hospital of Laredo are asked if they are US citizens and if they are legally in the country as required by the executive order. Doctors Hospital of Laredo informs patients that they have the right to withhold information. Their answers do not and will not affect the care they receive as required by federal law. Doctors Hospital of Laredo is committed to providing quality, compassionate care to all patients, regardless of their citizenship status.”
Texas health officials announced plans to use the collected data to seek federal grants to help cover health care costs. The first round of hospital data must be reported to Texas Health and Human Services by March 1, 2025.
Community members are reminded that they will not be denied care based on their answers and that they are not required to answer the citizenship question.
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