Abbott Signs Executive Order to Combat Birth Tourism Industry in Texas

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed an executive order Tuesday designed to dismantle birth tourism operations across the state, addressing what officials describe as an exploitation of citizenship laws. The directive grants state agencies authority to investigate birth tourism schemes within Texas healthcare systems and enforce penalties against any licensed provider found to be advertising, soliciting, assisting or facilitating unlawful practices.

“Texas will not tolerate the exploitation of our immigration laws by individuals traveling to the U.S. illegally or under false pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their child,” Abbott said in a statement. The governor pledged that enforcement would hold accountable any healthcare provider involved in such schemes and reiterated that “U.S. citizenship is not for sale.”

The order authorizes a range of enforcement mechanisms including license revocation or suspension, exclusion from state contracts, denial of state benefits, and other regulatory actions against violating entities. This action builds on Abbott’s earlier directive to the state Health and Human Services Commission to investigate Texas hospitals accused of marketing birth tourism packages.

Mission Regional Medical Center acknowledged to Fox News Digital that it previously advertised Spanish-language “Birth Packages in South Texas” on Mexican billboards targeting pregnant foreign nationals near the U.S.-Mexico border. The promotional materials listed deliveries starting at $3,950 for natural birth and $5,525 for cesarean sections. A hospital spokesperson stated the marketing materials “are no longer in use due to any unintended misunderstanding” and emphasized the facility complies with all applicable laws.

The State Department has implemented complementary measures to restrict birth tourism, including amended visa rules and expanded consular authority to deny applications when officials determine the applicant’s primary purpose is delivering a child in the United States. President Donald Trump has characterized birth tourism as a significant immigration system abuse.