DALLAS: Texas has intensified its crackdown on what officials describe as “birth tourism”, with Governor Greg Abbott signing Executive Order GA-57, authorizing a statewide investigation into healthcare providers and organizations suspected of helping foreign nationals travel to Texas to give birth so their children can obtain U.S. citizenship.
The new directive marks one of the state’s strongest actions against the practice and is expected to affect hospitals, physicians, medical service providers, and immigrant communities, particularly visitors from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and other South Asian countries who enter the United States on tourist visas.
Abbott: ‘American Citizenship Is Not for Sale’
Announcing the executive order, Governor Abbott said Texas would no longer tolerate activities that, in the state’s view, exploit America’s immigration system.
“American citizenship is not for sale,” Abbott declared, adding that the state would aggressively investigate individuals and organizations involved in facilitating birth tourism.
Six State Agencies Assigned to Investigate
Under Executive Order GA-57, six Texas government agencies have been directed to investigate suspected birth tourism operations within the healthcare sector. These include:
- Texas Department of State Health Services
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission
- Texas Medical Board
- Texas Board of Nursing
- Other relevant regulatory agencies
State officials have also been instructed to coordinate with federal authorities if potential violations of U.S. immigration or federal laws are uncovered.
Healthcare providers found violating state regulations could face serious penalties, including:
- Suspension or revocation of professional licenses
- Removal from state-funded healthcare programs
- Exclusion from government contracts
- Additional administrative sanctions
Hospitals Already Under Investigation
The executive order follows an earlier directive issued by Abbott this month instructing the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to examine hospitals advertising maternity packages specifically aimed at foreign nationals.
Following that review, Texas officials referred two hospitals to the state Attorney General after discovering promotional campaigns targeting expectant mothers in Mexico.
According to state authorities, the hospitals advertised childbirth packages near the U.S.-Mexico border, charging approximately $3,950 for natural deliveries and $5,525 for Caesarean births.
Move Comes After Supreme Court Decision
Texas’ latest action comes shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court concluded its 2025–26 term by leaving intact the constitutional principle of birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment.
The ruling effectively prevented efforts by President Donald Trump to limit automatic U.S. citizenship for children born on American soil.
Legal experts say Texas is now focusing on regulating activities surrounding birth tourism rather than challenging birthright citizenship itself.
Legal Experts Raise Questions
Austin-based immigration attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch said the executive order appears designed to target the businesses and medical providers associated with birth tourism while avoiding a direct constitutional challenge.
She argued that, after the Supreme Court reaffirmed birthright citizenship, Texas was pursuing alternative legal mechanisms to discourage the practice.
Concern Among Pakistani and South Asian Communities
The announcement has generated significant discussion among South Asian immigrant communities, particularly Pakistanis living in Dallas and Houston.
Several members of the Pakistani community told local media that families who had previously planned to travel to the United States on visitor visas for childbirth are now reconsidering those plans following Abbott’s announcement.
For many South Asian families, giving birth in the United States has long been viewed as a way for their children to acquire American citizenship at birth. However, the new Texas order signals increased scrutiny of healthcare providers and organizations involved in facilitating such arrangements.
Although the executive order does not change U.S. birthright citizenship laws, it significantly expands Texas’ efforts to investigate and penalize activities associated with birth tourism, reflecting the state’s broader push for stricter immigration enforcement.
