Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Tuesday directing Texas agencies to investigate birth tourism schemes and punish providers who help them.

AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday issued an executive order directing state agencies to investigate and eliminate what the state describes as unlawful birth tourism schemes in Texas.



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Abbott said the state will not tolerate what he calls the exploitation of immigration laws by people traveling to the United States illegally or under false pretenses to give birth and seek citizenship for their child.

“U.S. citizenship is not for sale, and Texas will put a stop to individuals seeking to profit from birth tourism,” Abbott said in the release.

The order also directs agencies to take enforcement action against any licensed or regulated person or business found to be advertising, soliciting, engaging in, assisting with or otherwise participating in these schemes. Possible penalties include revoking or suspending licenses, banning participation in state contracts, denying state benefits or pursuing other action under state law.

State agencies may also work with federal prosecutors, including by sharing information and referring potential federal violations.

Abbott’s order builds on earlier action taken July 7, when he directed HHSC to investigate Texas hospitals advertising birth tourism packages. According to the release, HHSC then referred two Texas hospitals to the attorney general over alleged advertising of “birth packages” in Mexico.

Birth tourism is when a pregnant woman travels to another country, in this case the United States, specifically to give birth so the child can obtain citizenship at birth. Abbott argues Texas should stop it because he sees it as a misuse of immigration laws and a profit-making scheme that undermines how the state and federal systems are supposed to work.

Any Texan with information about birth tourism schemes can report it to HHSC’s Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Justice or the appropriate U.S. attorney’s office in Texas.

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