Gov. Abbott requires Texas hospitals to check citizenship of patients [Video]

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) – Starting Nov. 1, Texas hospitals are required to ask patients whether they are in the U.S. legally or not, and track the cost of treating people without legal status.

This new policy stems from an order by Gov. Greg Abbott and escalates the state’s clash with the Biden administration.

Some believe this new question could scare some from seeking critical medical care.

“It becomes a fear-related thing to try and control the illegal immigrants to not use any sort of health care. So, that’s where it becomes really taxable for the community,” Wichita Falls resident Esly Pimentel said.

The move by Abbott’s office is the latest by Texas officials to prove an uneven financial burden on states because of illegal immigration.

“Something that they take back to the Biden Administration in terms of trying to get some reimbursement back from all of the health care …