Gov. Abbott cracks down on 'birth tourism' schemes in Texas healthcare

Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott has signed an executive order directing state agencies to identify and eliminate "birth tourism” schemes.

The order, signed Tuesday, authorizes state agencies to investigate licensed medical providers in Texas who promote or assist in birth tourism schemes – in which pregnant women travel to the U.S. to give birth so their children automatically obtain U.S. citizenship – and to pursue legal action against them.

“Texas will not tolerate the exploitation of our immigration laws by individuals traveling to the United States illegally or under false pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their child,” the governor said. 

“This executive order directs state agencies to investigate birth tourism schemes and hold accountable any provider that facilitates this fraud. U.S. citizenship is not for sale, and Texas will put a stop to individuals seeking to profit from birth tourism.”

Agencies expected to follow the order include the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), the Department of State Health Services, the HHSC Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Texas Medical Board, and the Texas Board of Nursing, and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Any medical providers found perpetuating “birth tourism” may face license suspension or revocation, ineligibility to participate in state contracts, denial of state benefits, or state and/or federal enforcement action, Abbott warned.

The order follows the discovery of numerous “birth tourism” schemes involving healthcare providers, including one connecting two Texas hospitals with advertisements for “birth packages” in Mexico on the website, “havemybabyinTEXAS.com.”

Birthright citizen ship entitles one to all the constitutional rights and legal protections afforded to any American, including the right to live and work in the country without restriction, vote in elections once you turn 18, and apply for a U.S. passport

In June, President Trump attempted to abolish birthright citizenship of children of illegal aliens and non-immigrant visaholders born in the U.S., citing such “birth tourism” schemes, in addition to rampant illegal immigration and overuse of public services by non-citizens. 

In Trump v. Barbara, the Supreme Court upheld that children born in the United States are citizens at birth regardless of their parents' immigration status, leading to concerns over system exploitation.