Texas Gov Abbott signs executive order cracking down on 'birth tourism,’ says US citizenship not for sale

FIRST OF FOX: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday took steps to crack down on the birth tourism industry in the state in an effort to curb the flow of pregnant women coming into the United States with the intention of giving birth so their child can automatically obtain American citizenship.

An executive order signed by Abbott empowers state agencies to investigate birth tourism schemes within Texas’ healthcare industry and to take enforcement action against any licensed or regulated individual or entity found to be advertising, soliciting, assisting or providing unlawful birth tourism schemes.

"Texas will not tolerate the exploitation of our immigration laws by individuals traveling to the U.S. 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."

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"U.S. citizenship is not for sale, and Texas will put a stop to individuals seeking to profit from birth tourism," the governor added.

Enforcement action includes revoking or suspending licenses, prohibiting participation in state contracts, denying state benefits, or pursuing other enforcement actions.

The executive order builds on a previous directive from Abbott when he tasked the state Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) earlier this month to investigate Texas hospitals accused of advertising birth tourism packages.

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One hospital, Mission Regional Medical Center, previously confirmed to Fox News Digital that it advertised Spanish-language "Birth Packages in South Texas" on billboards in Mexico. The ads promoted childbirth services to pregnant foreign nationals near the U.S.-Mexico border. The services included promotional deliveries starting at $3,950 for a natural birth and $5,525 for a C-section.

"The marketing materials regarding maternity services are no longer in use due to any unintended misunderstanding," a hospital spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News at the time. "We do not support or facilitate any unlawful activity and work to comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations."

Opponents of birthright citizenship have long cited birth tourism as a major immigration loophole.

Meanwhile, the State Department has enacted several measures to crack down on birth tourism through amended visa visitor rules and giving consular officers the power to deny visa applications if they believe the applicant's primary purpose is to give birth in the U.S.

President Donald Trump has called birth tourism a major abuse of the immigration system and a magnet for illegal immigration.

Fox News Digital's Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.