Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered an investigation into a South Texas hospital over billboards in Mexico advertising birth tourism packages.
Abbott directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) on Wednesday to investigate allegations that a Rio Grande Valley hospital promoted birth tourism packages to foreign nationals, according to a press release from Abbott’s Office. (RELATED: Supreme Court Shoots Down Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order)
Abbott called birth tourism an illegal practice that “exploits the extraordinary hospitality” of Texas and the United States in a letter to state health officials.
Texas will not permit the exploitation of its healthcare system or its citizenship laws.
Governor Greg Abbott today directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to investigate birth tourism packages to foreign nationals.
Read More: https://t.co/HiUdsTVHMK pic.twitter.com/xETjRs0DwL
— Governor Abbott Press Office (@GovAbbottPress) July 7, 2026
“Thousands of foreign travelers come to the United States under false pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their children. HHSC must investigate the hospital, a facility it regulates, for any violations of state law and contractual obligations,” said Abbott.
Mission Regional Medical Center, located in the Rio Grande Valley of the Lone Star State, denied engaging in any unlawful conduct, saying it was advertising its maternity services like many other hospitals and that the promotional materials cited by Abbott are no longer used. (RELATED: Congress Plans To ‘Rein In’ Birth Tourism Scams After SCOTUS Ruling)
Abbott said that if the investigation uncovers violations of state law, the case will be referred to the Texas attorney general and local prosecutors for potential civil or criminal action. He also said he intends to pursue additional legislation during the next session to crack down on birth tourism.
Under Abbott’s directive, HHSC will also pursue administrative penalties and sanctions against the hospital if violations are found.
The governor’s directive comes just weeks after the Supreme Court’s ruling in Trump v. Barbara, which left existing birthright citizenship protections in place, as President Donald Trump continues pushing Congress to enact changes to the policy.