Texas Governor Greg Abbott directed state officials on Tuesday to launch an immediate investigation into a South Texas hospital. The facility allegedly sought to profit from birth tourism practices. In a letter to Stephanie Muth, executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Abbott stated that Mission Regional Medical Center advertised "birth packages in South Texas" in foreign nations.
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Subscribe Sekarang →According to the governor, the hospital aimed to profit from securing United States citizenship for foreign children. Abbott declared birth tourism an illegal practice that exploits the hospitality of the country and the state. He alleged thousands of foreign travelers enter the United States under false pretenses to give birth.
A spokesperson for Mission Regional Medical Center responded in a statement, asserting the hospital does not support or facilitate unlawful activity. The spokesperson stated they intend to work cooperatively and transparently with state officials. The marketing materials regarding maternity services have been discontinued to avoid further misunderstanding.
The public nonprofit hospital operates just north of the Texas-Mexico border in the city of Mission. The investigation comes amid renewed Republican concerns over birthright citizenship. Recently, the Supreme Court ruled against federal efforts to undermine the practice. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller suggested the federal government could limit the entry of pregnant foreign nationals.
Based on a report by the Migration Policy Institute, birth tourism remains a rare phenomenon, accounting for less than 1 percent of the annual birthrate in the United States. Immigration experts noted that U.S. Customs and Border Protection already possesses the power to deny entry to individuals at the border.
Governor Abbott concluded his directive by pledging to work with the state Legislature to eliminate the practice in Texas, writing that American citizenship is not for sale. A spokesperson for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission confirmed Wednesday that the agency is implementing the governor's directive, referring the matter to the Office of Inspector General.