Story perspectives

Paxton Wins Order Keeping Newborn in Texas for Care

8/14/2026

Summary

Story summary

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won an Aug. 12, 2026 order that the newborn stay in Texas for medical care.
A Dallas judge issued a restraining order that stripped surrogate McKenna West of medical authority, barred her from contact until Aug. 25 1 p.m., and gave exclusive custody to parents Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed.
West’s lawyers allege a contract breach and seek $250,000 in damages, with anti-abortion groups backing her.

History

Historical Context

After the surrogate kidnapped Melissa “Baby M” for 87 days, New Jersey’s 1988 Supreme Court declared paid surrogacy contracts void and upheld the birth mother’s parental rights, a precedent later cited in the 2009 state gestational-surrogacy case. On August 12 2026, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stripped surrogate McKenna West of medical authority and granted custody to Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed, echoing Baby M’s warning of costly disputes.

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Story summary

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won an Aug. 12, 2026 order that the newborn stay in Texas for medical care.
A Dallas judge issued a restraining order that stripped surrogate McKenna West of medical authority, barred her from contact until Aug. 25 1 p.m., and gave exclusive custody to parents Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed.
West’s lawyers allege a contract breach and seek $250,000 in damages, with anti-abortion groups backing her.

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