Investigation Begins Over Alleged South Texas Birth Tourism

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has launched an investigation into two South Texas hospitals over advertisements promoting childbirth services to expectant mothers in Mexico as part of a broader crackdown on alleged birth tourism schemes.

Paxton Opens Investigation

AG Paxton announced that his office is investigating Mission Regional Medical Center and Knapp Medical Center over their alleged involvement in promoting childbirth services to expectant mothers living in Mexico.

According to Paxton's office, a Spanish-language billboard located near the U.S.-Mexico border advertised "Birth Packages in South Texas" and directed prospective patients to the website havemybabyinTEXAS.com.

The Attorney General's Office said the billboard promoted services offered by Mission Regional Medical Center, while Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco has also been implicated in the investigation.

Paxton Vows Enforcement

Paxton said his office will investigate any organizations suspected of facilitating illegal birth tourism.

AG Ken Paxton: "My office will investigate any suspected illegal birth tourism schemes in Texas, including the operations of two South Texas hospitals that appeared to advertise birth tourism on a billboard near the border."

AG Paxton continued: "My office will continue to hold accountable any entity that knowingly facilitates fraud in our state."

The investigation follows legal action Paxton filed in April against De'Ai Postpartum Care Center, a Houston-area business accused of coaching Chinese nationals to deceive federal immigration officials in an effort to obtain birthright citizenship for their children.

That lawsuit remains ongoing.

The Bottom Line

Attorney General Ken Paxton is expanding his investigation into alleged birth tourism operations by examining whether two South Texas hospitals improperly promoted childbirth services to expectant mothers in Mexico through border-area advertising.