Texas Investigating Hospital Over Alleged Birth Tourism Scheme

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed state health regulators to immediately investigate a hospital in South Texas accused of promoting “birth packages” to foreign customers in an effort to profit from U.S. citizenship for newborns.

In a July 7 letter to Health and Human Services Commission Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth, Abbott called for a probe into Mission Regional Medical Center. The governor cited reports that the facility advertised maternity services in other countries specifically to attract pregnant women seeking to give birth in the United States.

Abbott described birth tourism as an illegal practice that takes advantage of the hospitality extended to foreign visitors. He stated that thousands of travelers enter the country under false pretenses to secure citizenship for their children through birth on U.S. soil. The hospital, which operates under state oversight, must be examined for any violations of Texas law or its regulatory obligations, according to the letter. Abbott warned that confirmed violations would be referred to the state Attorney General for civil action and to local prosecutors for possible criminal charges.

The governor’s action follows the Supreme Court’s June 30 ruling in Trump v. Barbara, which upheld the traditional interpretation of the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause. That clause grants citizenship to those born in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction. The decision struck down a prior executive order that had sought to limit birthright citizenship for children of non-citizens.

Abbott emphasized the need to enforce state rules against any facility that facilitates birth tourism schemes. Mission Regional Medical Center had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.