Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered an investigation into Mission Regional Medical Center after the South Texas hospital advertised maternity packages in Mexico, drawing scrutiny over birth tourism and U.S. citizenship concerns.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered state officials to investigate a South Texas hospital after it advertised maternity delivery packages in Mexico that critics say encouraged foreign nationals to give birth in the United States.
Mission Regional Medical Center promoted birth packages on billboards in Mexico, offering deliveries beginning at $3,950 for a natural birth and $5,525 for a C-section, according to Fox News. The advertisements directed viewers to havemybabyinTEXAS.com, a website that has since been taken down.
The billboards also displayed a phone number beginning with “001,” the country code used to place calls from Mexico to the United States.
The hospital’s advertising campaign drew attention after the Supreme Court last week upheld birthright citizenship. The issue has renewed scrutiny of birth tourism, a practice in which foreign nationals travel to the United States to give birth so their children can receive U.S. citizenship.
Mission Regional Medical Center later said the campaign was no longer being used and characterized the matter as a misunderstanding.
“The marketing materials regarding maternity services are no longer in use due to any unintended misunderstanding,” a hospital spokesperson told Fox News. “We do not support or facilitate any unlawful activity and work to comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.”
Abbott responded by directing the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to investigate the hospital. In a July 7 letter obtained by Fox News, the governor said birth tourism exploits the United States and Texas.
“‘Birth tourism’ is an illegal practice that exploits the extraordinary hospitality that the United States and Texas offer to millions of foreign travelers each year,” Abbott wrote. “Unfortunately, thousands of foreign travelers come to the United States under false pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their children.”
Abbott instructed HHSC to “immediately and thoroughly investigate” Mission Regional Medical Center. He said any violations should be referred to the Texas Attorney General for civil enforcement and to the appropriate district or county attorney for possible criminal prosecution.
“American citizenship is not for sale, and Texas will not permit our healthcare system to be used as a magnet for birth tourism,” Abbott wrote.
The governor also said he intends to work with the Texas Legislature during its next session “to strengthen state law and eliminate birth tourism in Texas.”
The matter was also highlighted in an X post showing the billboard controversy and Abbott’s response.
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