Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appears at the Republican National Convention.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appears at the Republican National Convention. Credit: Shutterstock / Maxim Elramsisy

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday signed an executive order directing state agencies to “investigate and eliminate” alleged birth tourism happening in Texas.

Abbott’s latest political grandstanding is in response to a report from conservative blogger Tony Ortiz of Current Revolt earlier this month, which alleged that a website dubbed “havemybabyintexas.com” was selling packages to Mexican nationals wanting to give birth here so that their children will have U.S. citizenship.

Although birth tourism does occur, it’s extremely rare, according to immigration experts. Indeed, nonpartisan think tank the Migration Policy Institute estimates that 0.7% of all births in the U.S. may be attributable to the practice.

Even so, Abbott maintained that his executive order is necessary to prevent people from exploiting the Lone Star State’s hospitality.

“Texas will not tolerate the exploitation of our immigration laws by individuals traveling to the United States illegally or under pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their child,” Abbott said in a statement. “This executive order directs state agencies to investigate birth tourism schemes and hold accountable any provider that facilitates this fraud. U.S. citizenship is not for sale, and Texas will put a stop to individuals seeking to profit from birth tourism.”

Abbott’s executive order directs the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), the Department of State Health Services, the HHSC Office of Inspector General, the Texas Medical Board, the Texas Board of Nursing, and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to “investigate claims of birth tourism schemes within Texas’ healthcare industry.”

More specifically, under Abbott’s executive order, the state agencies will be required to take action against individuals or entities that advertise, facilitate or assist with alleged birth tourism schemes in Texas.

It’s unclear how many taxpayer-funded resources might be diverted due to the order.

Abbott’s declaration comes weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, upheld the 14th Amendment, guaranteeing U.S. citizenship to everyone born on American soil.

In response, some Texas Republicans, including controversial Railroad Commission candidate Bo French, have railed against the Supreme Court’s decision. French even called the ruling “traitorous,” arguing in an online rant that “Texas is sovereign” and shouldn’t recognize citizens born to parents of other nationalities as U.S. citizens.

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Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...