Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed the state’s Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to investigate two Rio Grande Valley hospitals for allegedly promoting 'birth tourism' to foreign nationals. The referral, sent to the Attorney General’s Office, targets Mission Regional Medical Center and Knapp Medical Center. The investigation centers on a billboard reportedly displayed in Latin American countries that advertised Spanish-language birth packages and directed users to a website titled havemybabyinTexas.com.
Governor Abbott stated that the state will not tolerate the use of the healthcare system to 'skirt federal immigration laws.' Mission Regional Medical Center confirmed the previous use of the billboard but stated it has been removed to prevent misunderstandings. While giving birth in the United States as a foreign national is not illegal, federal authorities have previously prosecuted businesses for facilitating related visa fraud or encouraging applicants to deceive immigration officials.
The state’s actions follow a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that maintained the principle of birthright citizenship. In a separate legal action in April, Attorney General Ken Paxton sued a Houston-area postpartum center, alleging the facility coached individuals on how to mislead federal authorities. Legal representatives for that center have denied the allegations in court filings.
Immigration advocates, including Austin attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, noted that birth tourism is statistically rare because pregnant travelers often face scrutiny at ports of entry. Lincoln-Goldfinch expressed concern that increased state enforcement against providers might discourage immigrants from seeking necessary medical care. State Republicans have included the elimination of birth tourism in their recent party platform ahead of the upcoming legislative session.