Texas Governor Orders Probe Into Birth Tourism, Says Citizenship Not for Sale

The order, signed Wednesday, tasks the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Medical Board, and the Office of the Attorney General with identifying hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities that market maternity packages to foreign nationals seeking U.S. citizenship for their newborns.

Abbott said the state will use existing licensing and inspection powers to penalize facilities that profit from such arrangements, including fines and potential license revocations. The governor's office estimates that birth tourism generates tens of millions of dollars annually in Texas, with a concentration of operations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The directive also requires state agencies to compile a report within 90 days detailing the scope of the practice and recommending legislative changes. Abbott said the state will coordinate with federal immigration authorities to share findings.

Texas joins several other states that have moved to restrict birth tourism, though the practice remains legal under federal law. The 14th Amendment grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil, a provision that Abbott said does not extend to those who come solely to give birth.

The order is effective immediately and applies to all state-regulated healthcare providers. Abbott said the state will prioritize cases involving fraudulent billing or misrepresentation of services to foreign clients.