Abbott directs state agency to investigate birth tourism in Texas

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(The Center Square) – After criticizing the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last week in a Fourteenth Amendment case, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday directed state action to investigate one form of visa and immigration fraud, birth tourism, which he argues will likely expand after the ruling. 

In a ruling considered to be a major blow to the Trump administration, the court held that children born in the U.S. by mothers who are illegally in the country have citizenship rights.

The ruling is also seen as a blow to law enforcement currently combatting a “birth tourism” criminal networks. These networks orchestrate illegal entry and visa fraud to facilitate foreign national women giving birth in the U.S., which are also connected to extensive welfare fraud, investigators have found. Prosecutions span from California to Texas to the Northern Mariana Islands.

On Tuesday, he directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to immediately launch a thorough investigation into Mission Regional Medical Center. Regulated by HHSC, the facility is reportedly advertising “birth packages in south Texas” to women overseas. The advertisements are reportedly targeting foreign national women to enter the U.S. to give birth and allegedly involve a profit scheme related to securing U.S. citizenship. 

Birth tourism “is an illegal practice that exploits the extraordinary hospitality that the United States and Texas offer to millions of foreign travelers each year,” Abbott wrote the director of HHSC. “Unfortunately, thousands of foreign travelers come to the United States under false pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their children.”

The investigation will identify any violations of state law and contractual obligations and refer them to the Office of Attorney General for civil enforcement. Any criminal complaints will be referred to the appropriate District or County Attorney, he said. 

In response to learning of the governor's directive, a Mission Regional Medical Center spokesperson told The Center Square the center "is committed to providing high-quality, compassionate healthcare and expanding access to care for the communities we serve. Like hospitals across the country and throughout the region, we share information about the healthcare services we provide. We do not support or facilitate any unlawful activity and work to comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations. The marketing materials regarding maternity services are no longer in use due to any unintended misunderstanding. We intend to work cooperatively and transparently with local and state officials. Our focus remains on delivering safe, high-quality care to every patient who seeks our services."

HHSC is also tasked with taking appropriate administrative actions against Mission Regional Medical Center, including assessing sanctions and penalties. 

The facility, a 297-bed, private, non-profit hospital that provides inpatient and outpatient hospital services in Rio Grande Valley, is five-star rated for maternity care. It also provides a full range of medical and surgical services including a 24/7 ER. It says it has 300 physicians, a highly trained medical staff, the latest medical technology and is reportedly being purchased by Prime Healthcare Foundation, according to its website.

In April, Attorney General Ken Paxton sued a Houston area “Chinese birth tourism” center alleging it’s exploiting birthright citizenship by “unlawfully facilitating the invasion of Chinese nationals into Texas for the sole purpose of giving birth,” The Center Square reported.

Paxton has yet to comment on the Supreme Court ruling or on the investigation Abbott directed and continues to receive widespread criticism for vacationing in Europe during a statistically tied U.S. Senate race. 

He’s also being criticized for not celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence in the U.S., including with Trump officials in Washington, D.C., instead choosing to travel to Iceland and Europe. His wife has filed for divorce citing “biblical grounds,” referring to alleged adultery. 

The latest photos, videos and articles about Paxton vacationing in Europe were published by the Daily Mail on Tuesday. 

In the absence of an OAG investigation, including for potential Medicaid fraud, Abbott directed an HHSC investigation. 

“American citizenship is not for sale and Texas will not permit our healthcare system to be used as a magnet for birth tourism. Reports show the hospital targets foreign nationals with ‘birth packages in South Texas’ to profit from birth tourism that grants U.S. citizenship to children born in the United States,” he said.

Abbott also said Texas will do whatever it can to assist federal officials with stopping birth tourism in Texas.