Full Breakdown
Texas Governor Orders State Probe of Mission Regional Over Alleged Birth-Tourism Advertising
7/8/2026, 2:56:13 PM
Alleged Birth-Tourism Advertising at Mission Regional
Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to investigate Mission Regional Medical Center in Mission, Texas, after reports that the hospital advertised “birth packages” on billboards in Mexico and on a now-offline website (havemybabyinTEXAS.com). The advertisements, placed within roughly five miles of the U.S.–Mexico border, offered deliveries for $3,950 (natural birth) or $5,525 (C-section) and included a U.S. telephone code (“001”) for prospective patients. Abbott’s July 7 letter to HHSC Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth framed the campaign as an effort to profit from “birth tourism,” defined as foreign travelers giving birth in the United States to secure citizenship for their children.
Context: Birth Tourism and Recent Legal Landscape
Birth tourism has been a recurring concern among immigration officials. The practice gained renewed attention after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the 14th-Amendment-based birthright citizenship doctrine, rejecting President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to limit it. The Migration Policy Institute estimates that birth-tourism births number between 5,000 and 26,000 annually—a small fraction of the roughly 3.5 million U.S. births each year.
Key Actors
- Greg Abbott – Governor of Texas, author of the investigation directive.
- Mission Regional Medical Center – Hospital accused of the advertising.
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) – Agency tasked with the probe; led by Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth.
- Texas Attorney General – Potential recipient of civil enforcement referrals.
- Brian Harrison – Texas Rep. (R-Waxahachie) calling for felony legislation.
- Kyle Brosnan – General counsel, Oversight Project, critic of the Supreme Court decision.
- Donald Trump – Former president, commenting on the Court’s ruling.
Financial and Promotional Details
- Advertised “birth packages” priced at $3,950 for a natural birth and $5,525 for a C-section.
- Two billboards displayed the promotion in Mexico, each within ~5 mi of the hospital.
- The associated website was taken offline after images circulated on social media.
Official Statements & Responses
Abbott’s letter described birth tourism as “an illegal practice that exploits the extraordinary hospitality that the United States and Texas offer to millions of foreign travelers each year,” and instructed HHSC to refer any violations to the attorney general for civil enforcement and to district or county attorneys for possible criminal prosecution. The hospital issued a statement asserting that it “shares information about the healthcare services we provide” and that the marketing materials “are no longer in use due to any unintended misunderstanding.” Rep. Harrison urged an immediate special legislative session to criminalize birth tourism. President Trump, reacting to the Supreme Court decision, called on Congress to enact legislation ending birthright citizenship.
Criticism & Opposition
Kyle Brosnan warned that the Supreme Court’s “egregiously wrong decision” could open “the floodgates” to a larger birth-tourism industry, advocating for criminal investigations and mass deportations of illegal aliens. Trump’s post on Truth Social echoed a similar stance, urging congressional action without a constitutional amendment.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Mission Regional maintains that the promotional materials have been discontinued, while Abbott’s office cites evidence of active advertising in foreign markets. No public data confirm whether any births resulted from the advertised packages, nor have specific state statutes been identified as potentially violated.
Verbatim Quotes
- “American citizenship is not for sale and Texas will not permit our healthcare system to be used as a magnet for birth tourism.” — Greg Abbott, Texas Governor
- “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.” — Greg Abbott, Texas Governor
- “We do not support or facilitate any unlawful activity and work to comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.” — Mission Regional Medical Center spokesperson
- “The marketing materials regarding maternity services are no longer in use due to any unintended misunderstanding.” — Mission Regional Medical Center spokesperson
- “We need a special session NOW to make BIRTH TOURISM A FELONY!” — Brian Harrison, Texas Representative
- “The Supreme Court upheld Birthright Citizenship, which is too bad for our Country, but we can easily make it up in Congress through Legislation, with the support of the President, that has now been determined during this process,” — Donald Trump, former President
Legislative Outlook
Abbott indicated he will collaborate with the Texas Legislature in the next session to strengthen state law against birth tourism and authorized HHSC to impose administrative sanctions or penalties pending the investigation’s findings.
