A Texas case reveals how stolen identities by illegal immigrants can cut children off vital benefits, prompting an arrest and renewed calls for stricter enforcement and accountability.
Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the arrest of Antonio De Jesus Moreno Escobar after investigators determined he used a Texas child’s identity to gain work and benefits. Escobar faces charges tied to identity theft that led to a minor losing access to Medicaid, and he is currently being held on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer. The case has been framed by state officials as a clear example of how weak enforcement harms Texans and strains public programs.
According to investigators, Escobar purchased falsified documents for just $120, including a stolen Social Security number, a Texas ID card, and a fake green card. He allegedly used the identity of a 13-year-old boy from Hutto, Texas, to secure employment at seven separate businesses over a span of three years. The result was fraudulent income reported in the child’s name, which triggered the termination notice from Medicaid.
“This case is a disturbing example of how illegal aliens drain our resources, hurt innocent Texans, and even deprive children of vital healthcare,” said Attorney General Paxton. That quote comes straight from the attorney general’s office and is being used to underscore calls for stronger border and workplace enforcement. State officials insist the law must be applied fully when identity fraud affects public benefits and vulnerable families.
The scheme was uncovered when the child’s mother received notice that her son’s Medicaid coverage was being canceled because income had been reported in his name. Agencies traced that phantom income back to employers who had unknowingly hired someone using the stolen identity. Once the fraud surfaced, state investigators coordinated with federal immigration authorities, leading to Escobar’s detention on an ICE hold.
Texas’ Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has highlighted the broader fiscal stakes involved in identity and benefits fraud. Since 2020, the MFCU has recovered more than $1 billion in settlements, judgments, and restitution for Texas taxpayers. For fiscal year 2024 the MFCU receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $22,792,664, while the remaining 25 percent, totaling $7,597,553, is funded by the State of Texas.
Officials point out that the MFCU’s work has produced a hefty return on investment, with the office reporting an extraordinary return of 2,889 percent for Texas taxpayers over the last five years. That statistic is being used as part of the case for investing in enforcement and detection systems that can stop identity theft and protect benefits for legitimate recipients. Lawmakers and officials say prosecutions like this demonstrate how enforcement dollars can pay for themselves through recovered funds.
The administration in Washington has also emphasized deportations and removals as a tool to curb illegal immigration. More than 2 million illegal aliens have left the U.S. in Trump’s first term, including 1.6 million who have voluntarily self-deported and over 527,000 deportations, according to the Department of Homeland Security. In recent months, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has also investigated worksites where large-scale identity theft and unauthorized employment were uncovered, adding to the push for stronger employer verification and immigration controls.
For local families caught up in this case, the impact was immediate and painful: a child suddenly denied critical health coverage while parents scrambled to clear the record. State authorities say ongoing prosecutions and tighter coordination with federal partners aim to prevent similar incidents and hold perpetrators accountable. The arrest of Escobar is being presented as an example of the kinds of enforcement steps Republican leaders advocate to protect both taxpayers and vulnerable Texans.
