Gov. Greg Abbott signs executive order targeting alleged 'birth tourism' in Texas

LAREDO, Tex. [KGNS News]

Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order Tuesday directing state agencies to crack down on what he characterizes as birth tourism schemes operating within Texas. The directive orders multiple state departments to identify and prosecute individuals and businesses that allegedly help foreign nationals enter the state specifically to deliver children who will gain U.S. citizenship.

The action stems from a report published earlier this month by conservative commentator Tony Ortiz, who highlighted a website offering maternity packages to Mexican citizens interested in giving birth in Texas. Abbott characterized such arrangements as fraudulent exploitation of state resources and federal immigration law. "Texas will not tolerate the exploitation of our immigration laws by individuals traveling to the United States illegally or under pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their child," he said in a statement accompanying the order.

Under the executive order, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Department of State Health Services, HHSC Office of Inspector General, Texas Medical Board, Texas Board of Nursing and Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation will investigate suspected birth tourism operations. Healthcare providers found facilitating such schemes could face license revocation and criminal prosecution. The scope of state resources that may be allocated to these investigations remains undetermined.

Immigration researchers have characterized birth tourism as an exceptionally uncommon occurrence. The Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan research organization, estimates that the practice accounts for roughly 0.7 percent of births occurring annually across the United States, suggesting it remains statistically insignificant despite Abbott's concern.

Hospitals in Laredo responded to inquiries about the order by stating they have received no contact from state investigators and do not market maternity packages to international patients. Both Laredo Medical Center and Doctor's Hospital of Laredo denied offering specialized birth services targeting foreign nationals and indicated no policy changes were implemented in response to the governor's directive. Earlier this month, two other Texas hospitals had been referred to the state attorney general's office based on similar allegations.