Gov. Greg Abbott is calling for an immediate investigation into reports that a hospital in South Texas is marketing “birth packages” to foreign nationals as part of a controversial practice known as birth tourism.
In a Tuesday letter to Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth, Abbott ordered a thorough probe into Mission Regional Medical Center following media reports that the hospital advertised “birth tourism” services to non-U.S. citizens.
In the letter, Abbott instructed HHSC to refer any violations to the Attorney General for civil enforcement and to the appropriate agency for criminal prosecution, while also imposing administrative sanctions and penalties.
“Birth tourism is an illegal practice that exploits the extraordinary hospitality that the United States and Texas offer to millions of foreign travelers each year,” Abbott said. “Thousands of foreign travelers come to the United States under false pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their children.”
The governor repeatedly stated that “American citizenship is not for sale” and that Texas will not allow its healthcare system to be exploited. He pledged to work with the Texas Legislature next session to strengthen state laws against the practice.
“HHSC must investigate the hospital, a facility it regulates, for any violations of state law and contractual obligations,” Abbott stated. He added that he will do everything in his power to “assist federal officials to stop this fraudulent practice.”
Earlier this year, Attorney General Ken Paxton sued a Houston-area birth tourism operation, alleging it helped more than 1,000 Chinese nationals travel to Texas to give birth so their children could obtain U.S. citizenship.
According to the lawsuit, the business coached clients on obtaining visas, assisted with immigration paperwork, and marketed services designed to help foreign nationals secure birthright citizenship, while also falsely advertising medical services. Paxton sought to permanently shut down the operation and impose civil penalties.
The issue has drawn renewed attention after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump’s attempt to limit birthright citizenship, ruling that babies born to immigrants — including those in the country temporarily for work or travel — are automatically U.S. citizens.
In Trump v. Barbara, the high court ruled 5-4 that Trump’s executive order restricting birthright citizenship violated the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
While it’s unclear exactly how many women travel to the U.S. for the express purpose of giving birth so their child can obtain citizenship, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that as many as 9,500 births in 2024 were to parents who listed a non-U.S. address as their primary residence.
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