From Fox News: Texas hospitals accumulated more than $1 billion in healthcare costs for illegal immigrants during fiscal year 2025, the first year the state began tracking the figures.
The data, compiled by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and obtained by Texas Scorecard, shows hospitals logged 313,742 visits linked to individuals not legally present, with total costs reaching $1.05 billion by the end of the fiscal year.
Texas’ fiscal year runs from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31, but hospitals were only required to begin reporting in November. Based on the reported data, costs averaged about $105 million per month, meaning the true annual total could be significantly higher.
To put the figures into perspective, the reported hospital costs approach about 1% of the state’s tax-funded resources.
The report explains that Gov. Greg Abbott had signed an executive order in August 2024 that required the agency to keep track of the number of “individuals not lawfully present” in the U.S. who use Texas public hospitals.
Abbott’s executive order also instructed all Texas hospitals to provide HHSC with data on illegal alien patients every quarter, including the number of inpatient discharges, emergency department visits and the cost of care provided to these patients.
When he issued the executive order on August 8, 2024, Abbot announced, “Issued an Executive Order today directing @TexasHHSC to collect healthcare costs for illegal immigrants in Texas. Texans shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden of those costs. We will ensure the Biden-Harris Administration pays Texas back.”
Issued an Executive Order today directing @TexasHHSC to collect healthcare costs for illegal immigrants in Texas.
Texans shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden of those costs.
We will ensure the Biden-Harris Administration pays Texas back.
More: https://t.co/MoKLnuE33P pic.twitter.com/YIW4E8yLfM
— Governor Abbott Press Office (@GovAbbottPress) August 8, 2024
Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Tex.) reacted to the massive price tag, writing, “Illegal aliens in Texas made 313,742 hospital visits in FY 2025. Total cost: $1.05 billion. Remember when Democrats said illegals don’t get free healthcare?”
Illegal aliens in Texas made 313,742 hospital visits in FY 2025.
Total cost: $1.05 billion.
Remember when Democrats said illegals don’t get free healthcare?https://t.co/uoYrD5YnxN
— Lance Gooden (@Lancegooden) January 17, 2026
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