Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to investigate Mission (Texas) Regional Medical Center over allegations it marketed “birth tourism” packages to foreign nationals seeking U.S. citizenship for their children.
In a July 7 letter to HHSC Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth, Mr. Abbott ordered an immediate investigation into reports the hospital advertised “Birth Packages in South Texas” abroad. He instructed HHSC to refer any violations to the state attorney general for civil enforcement and to local prosecutors for criminal action, and directed the agency to pursue administrative sanctions and penalties against the hospital.
“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,” Mr. Abbott wrote in the letter. “American citizenship is not for sale, and Texas will not permit our healthcare system to be used as a magnet for birth tourism.”
A spokesperson for Mission Regional, operated by Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare, told Becker’s that the “marketing materials regarding maternity services are no longer in use due to any unintended misunderstanding.”
“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 spokesperson said, adding that it intends to work cooperatively with local and state officials.
Mr. Abbott said he also plans to work with the Texas Legislature next session to strengthen state law targeting birth tourism.
The investigation comes about a week after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting birthright citizenship, upholding the long-standing interpretation that the 14th Amendment grants citizenship to nearly all children born on U.S. soil.
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