Story perspectives

Texas Court Keeps Newborn Gabriel in Texas Under Emergency Order

8/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured an emergency order keeping newborn Gabriel in Texas.
Gabriel, born Aug. 12 in Dallas, remains in critical condition after Norwood heart surgery.
Surrogate McKenna West, an Alaska nurse, refused to terminate the pregnancy after the HLHS diagnosis.
Biological parents Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed obtained a restraining order seeking custody.
Anti-abortion groups back West, hoping the case will prompt Texas surrogacy bans.

History

Historical Context

In February 1988 the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled the paid surrogacy contract in the Baby M case unenforceable, restoring birth mother Mary Beth Whitehead’s parental rights. The ruling spurred a 1990 state ban that affected more than 1,200 pending contracts. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s emergency order to keep newborn Gabriel with surrogate McKenna West now invokes that precedent, threatening broader restrictions.

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Story summary

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured an emergency order keeping newborn Gabriel in Texas.
Gabriel, born Aug. 12 in Dallas, remains in critical condition after Norwood heart surgery.
Surrogate McKenna West, an Alaska nurse, refused to terminate the pregnancy after the HLHS diagnosis.
Biological parents Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed obtained a restraining order seeking custody.
Anti-abortion groups back West, hoping the case will prompt Texas surrogacy bans.

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