Arizona’s Democratic governor, Katie Hobbs, vetoed a controversial bill that would have required the state’s hospitals to ask about the immigration status of patients attending medical emergencies.
The decision has been applauded by pro-immigrant organizations and health professionals, who considered the measure dangerous and discriminatory.
The initiative, pushed by Republican lawmakers, proposed that all hospitals that receive federal funds under Medicaid would have to verify and record the immigration status of those seeking emergency room care.
According to the promoters, the objective was to create an official record of the economic cost of medical care for undocumented immigrants in Arizona.
Hobbs advocates fear-free access to medical care
In the official letter sent to the state Congress explaining her veto, Governor Hobbs made it clear that most undocumented immigrants do not qualify for Medicaid, making this type of verification unnecessary.
In addition, he stressed that “access to emergency medical care must remain free of barriers and without fear of immigration reprisals”.
Rejection from the medical community and civil organizations
The proposal generated a strong response of rejection from hospitals, clinics, chambers of commerce, civil rights advocates and Latino organizations.
They argued that the requirement would not only violate patients’ privacy, but also discourage vulnerable people from seeking urgent medical care, even in potentially life-threatening cases.
In addition, activists warned that, although the proposal did not include sending data to ICE ( Immigration and Customs Enforcement), the mere fact of collecting this information generated a climate of fear in the immigrant community, especially in a state like Arizona with a history of harsh immigration policies.
A case that set alarm bells ringing
The veto coincided with the public denunciation of the case of “Francisco,” a man of Mexican origin who was arrested by ICE agents on May 12 when he went to San Jose Hospital in Tucson to pick up his brother, who was in the emergency room.
According to witnesses, a hospital employee questioned the immigration status of the two and subsequently reported them to immigration authorities.
This incident has reinforced fears that the healthcare system will become an extension of immigration agencies, putting public health at risk by pushing entire communities to avoid hospitals for fear of being detained.
Questioning immigration status in Arizona hospitals
Buzzy
This veto is one of several that Governor Hobbs has issued during the current state legislative session, in which Republican lawmakers have attempted to implement measures similar to those pushed by the Donald Trump administration on immigration.
Among these proposals are:
Forcing local police to cooperate with ICE, including holding detained individuals for up to 48 hours while their immigration status is verified.
Require state agencies and contractors to verify the immigration status of persons applying for public benefits.
Although these initiatives have been held up on Hobbs’ desk, conservative lawmakers have already announced their intention to bring some of them to referendum in the 2026 state elections, which could change the legal landscape if they gain popular support.
El acceso a atención médica de emergencia debe permanecer libre de barreras y sin temor a represalias migratorias
Katie Hobbs, gobernadora de Arizona
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