Texas Governor Greg Abbott Orders State Agencies to Crack Down on Birth Tourism

Governor Greg Abbott signed an executive order directing several Texas agencies—including the Health and Human Services Commission, the Department of State Health Services, the Office of Inspector General, the Texas Medical Board, the Board of Nursing and the Department of Licensing and Regulation—to investigate and eliminate unlawful birth‑tourism schemes in the state's health‑care system. The order mandates enforcement actions such as suspending or revoking professional licenses, barring participation in state contracts and denying state benefits, and allows agencies to share information with federal prosecutors. The move builds on earlier steps by Abbott, who earlier ordered an investigation into hospitals advertising birth‑tourism packages and referred two facilities, including Mission Regional Medical Center, to the state attorney general for alleged violations.