Gov. Abbott Orders Crackdown on Birth Tourism in Texas

Texas Governor Greg Abbott is now ordering a crackdown on birth tourism schemes in Texas. Gov. Abbott issued an executive order last week directing Texas agencies to investigate birth tourism schemes and punish providers who help mothers have their child in Texas to seek U.S. citizenship for the child.

What Gov. Abbott's Executive Order Does

The order requires Texas Health and Human Services Commission, 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 claims of birth tourism.

Abbott also said that Texas 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 the child.

READ MORE: These Baby Names Are Now Illegal in Texas

How Texas Could Enforce the Order

The order also pushes agencies to act against licensed or regulated people or businesses found to be advertising, soliciting, engaging in, assisting with, or otherwise participating in these schemes.

Agencies in Texas can also work with federal prosecutors, including sharing information and referring to potential federal violations.

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What Is Birth Tourism?

Birth tourism is when a pregnant woman travels to another country so the child can get citizenship at birth. Gov. Abbott believes this to be a misuse of immigration laws and a profit-making scheme that undermines how the state and federal systems are supposed to work.

If you know any information about birth tourism schemes, you're encouraged to report it to the HHSC's Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Justice or the appropriate U.S. Attorney's office in Texas.