Texas – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that he issued an executive order directing state agencies to investigate alleged birth tourism schemes and take action against health care providers accused of facilitating them.
“Individuals are traveling to the U.S. illegally to give birth and secure citizenship for their child. That’s fraud,” Abbott wrote on X. “I issued an executive order directing state agencies to investigate these birth tourism schemes and hold every provider that facilitates them accountable. U.S. citizenship is not for sale.”
The executive order, known as Executive Order GA-57, directs multiple Texas agencies to investigate claims involving birth tourism within the state’s health care industry and pursue enforcement actions against licensed or regulated individuals and organizations found to be participating in unlawful activity.
According to Abbott’s office, the order directs the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), the Department of State Health Services, the HHSC Office of Inspector General, the Texas Medical Board, the Texas Board of Nursing, and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to investigate allegations involving providers who advertise, arrange, assist with, or participate in birth tourism schemes.
The order allows agencies to take actions including suspending or revoking professional licenses, preventing participation in state contracts, denying state benefits, and pursuing other enforcement measures available under Texas law.
Abbott said the state will also work with federal authorities when appropriate, allowing agencies to coordinate with federal prosecutors by sharing information and resources and referring potential violations of federal law.
“Texas will not tolerate the exploitation of our immigration laws by individuals traveling to the United States illegally or under false pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their child,” Abbott said in a statement. “This executive order directs state agencies to investigate birth tourism schemes and hold accountable any provider that facilitates this fraud.”
The governor’s announcement follows previous action taken by his administration earlier this month. On July 7, Abbott directed HHSC to investigate Texas hospitals accused of advertising birth tourism packages and refer possible violations to law enforcement agencies.
Abbott’s office said HHSC later referred two Texas hospitals to the Texas Attorney General’s Office over alleged advertisements promoting “birth packages” in Mexico. Officials said those referrals involved potential violations of state law.
The order comes as birth tourism remains a debated immigration issue nationwide. Birth tourism generally refers to foreign nationals traveling to another country, including the United States, with the intention of giving birth so their child may obtain citizenship under that country’s laws.
Supporters of measures targeting birth tourism argue that individuals who intentionally exploit immigration and citizenship laws should face consequences. Critics have questioned enforcement efforts and raised concerns about how such investigations could affect lawful immigration, health care providers, and families.
Under current U.S. law, children born on American soil are generally considered U.S. citizens under the 14th Amendment, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. The issue of birthright citizenship has been the subject of ongoing political debate and legal challenges.
Abbott encouraged Texans who have information about alleged birth tourism schemes to report potential violations to the HHSC Office of Inspector General. The state also directed residents to submit tips to federal authorities, including the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in Texas.
The executive order will remain in effect unless it is modified, amended, rescinded, or replaced by the governor.
