Full Breakdown
Texas Attorney General Orders Permanent Closure of Houston Birth-Tourism Center
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Shutdown of De’Ai Postpartum Care Center
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that the De’Ai Postpartum Care Center and its operators must cease all activities and stop facilitating births. The order follows a state-filed lawsuit that began in April 2026 and culminated in a legal victory that permanently shuts down the Houston-area business accused of aiding foreign nationals in circumventing U.S. immigration rules.
Background on the Alleged Birth-Tourism Operation
According to the Attorney General’s office, the center operated for nearly two decades, marketing services on popular Chinese social-media platforms. Investigators allege the business ran at least four properties—in Sugar Land, Houston, Richmond, and Rosenberg—and sometimes housed multiple families per location. The operation is said to have facilitated up to 20 births per day and was responsible for more than 1,000 U.S.–born children whose parents were Chinese citizens. The center reportedly advised women to apply for visas before pregnancy to avoid immigration scrutiny.
Legal Action and Court Outcome
Texas officials characterized the activity as an illegal “birth-tourism” scheme that undermines the nation’s immigration system. The court’s ruling required the center to halt operations and to cooperate with authorities in winding down its facilities.
Official Statements & Responses
He pledged to use his authority to stop similar operations, describing birth-tourism as a “scam that threatens national security.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “I will do everything in my power to stop foreign nationals from unlawfully exploiting our immigration system through the scam of ‘birth tourism,’” — General Ken Paxton, brief texas attorney
Impact and Outlook
The shutdown removes a venue that state officials say enabled the circumvention of immigration law and the acquisition of U.S. citizenship for children born to foreign nationals. While the immediate effect is the cessation of the center’s activities, the case highlights ongoing concerns by Texas officials about birth-tourism networks and may prompt further investigations into similar enterprises across the state.