Texas: Gov. Abbott launches probe into hospital advertising ‘birth packages’ for foreign nationals
OAN Staff Lillian Mann
3:52 PM – Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has launched an investigation into a Texas hospital accused of advertising “birth packages in South Texas” on billboards in Mexico that allegedly encouraged pregnant foreign nationals to travel to the United States to obtain citizenship for their children through so-called “birth tourism.”
Abbott (R-Texas.) has instructed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to investigate “birth tourism” packages from Mission Regional Medical Center which have been advertised on billboards in foreign countries “in an apparent effort to profit from securing U.S. citizenship for their children.”
“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 said in a statement released on Tuesday. “American citizenship is not for sale and Texas will not permit our healthcare system to be used as a magnet for birth tourism.”
“Thousands of foreign travelers come to the United States under false pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their children,” the Texas governor continued. “HHSC must investigate the hospital, a facility it regulates, for any violations of state law and contractual obligations.”
While a spokesperson for Mission Regional Medical Center confirmed to Fox News that the hospital was responsible for the campaign, they stated that the billboards which featured natural birth packages for $3,950 and C-sections for $5,525—located approximately five miles from the facility near a U.S.-Mexico border crossing—had since been removed.
The public nonprofit hospital operates under the management of HHSC and is located just north of the Texas-Mexico border in a city called Mission.
The campaign reportedly began in 2021 but they did not clarify when the billboards were installed in Mexico, according to the Mission Regional Medical Center.
The spokesperson further maintained that the hospital “does not support or facilitate any unlawful activity” and is committed to complying with “all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.”
“The marketing materials regarding maternity services are no longer in use due to any unintended misunderstanding,” they continued. “We intend to work cooperatively and transparently with local and state officials. Our focus remains on delivering safe, high-quality care to every patient who seeks our services.”
This investigation unfolds amidst ongoing frustration from constitutional conservatives after the Supreme Court blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order, which aimed to close the birthright citizenship loophole for foreign nationals. The Court’s decision to invalidate the order leaves the 14th Amendment’s original intent heavily debated, with many legal scholars arguing that the amendment was never meant to grant automatic citizenship to the children of temporary visitors or illegal immigrants.
While some groups point to data downplaying the frequency of “birth tourism,” critics emphasize that even a single exploited loophole undermines the rule of law and the value of legal citizenship. Opponents of the practice argue that allowing tens of thousands of individuals to bypass the standard immigration process creates a powerful magnet for exploitation and strains local infrastructure, making legislative or constitutional reform a top priority for securing the state’s resources.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news alerts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
What do YOU think? Click here to jump to the comments!
Sponsored Content Below
Advertising by Adpathway
