Texas Governor Greg Abbott is taking a hard line on what he calls an illegal practice: birth tourism. On Tuesday, he ordered the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to investigate Mission Regional Medical Center over allegations that the hospital marketed so-called "BIRTH PACKAGES IN SOUTH TEXAS" to foreign nationals, essentially selling a path to U.S. citizenship for newborns.
The governor's office says the hospital advertised these packages in foreign countries, targeting international patients who want their children born on American soil. Under the 14th Amendment, anyone born in the U.S. is automatically a citizen — a right the Supreme Court recently upheld, much to the chagrin of some Republicans.
"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 in a statement. He added that "thousands of foreign travelers come to the United States under false pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their children."
Abbott instructed HHSC to refer any violations to the Texas Attorney General's Office for civil enforcement and to local prosecutors for possible criminal action. The agency can also impose administrative penalties on the hospital if it finds wrongdoing.
"American citizenship is not for sale and Texas will not permit our healthcare system to be used as a magnet for birth tourism," Abbott wrote in a letter to HHSC Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth.
The move comes just weeks after the Justice Department told prosecutors to prioritize birth tourism investigations. That directive followed the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision blocking President Donald Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship. The ruling drew sharp criticism from Republicans like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who called it a "travesty" and urged Congress to change the law.
Federal officials say birth tourism schemes can involve fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering — charges that could land operators in serious legal trouble. For now, all eyes are on Mission Regional Medical Center as the state investigation unfolds.
