Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered an investigation into a South Texas hospital after it confirmed it advertised maternity “birth packages” in Mexico, offering delivery services to foreign nationals near the U.S.-Mexico border.
Mission Regional Medical Center confirmed the advertising campaign included Spanish-language billboards promoting childbirth services with prices starting at $3,950 for a natural birth and $5,525 for a C-section. The advertisements directed people to a website that has since been taken offline.
The billboards, which circulated on social media before being removed Monday, also included a phone number beginning with “001,” the country code used to call the United States from Mexico.
Abbott on Tuesday directed Texas Health and Human Services Commission Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth to investigate the hospital for potential violations of state law and contractual obligations.
“Birth tourism” is an illegal practice that exploits the extraordinary hospitality that the United States and Texas offer to millions of foreign travelers each year,” Abbott wrote in a July 7 letter obtained by Fox News. “Unfortunately, thousands of foreign travelers come to the United States under false pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their children.”
The governor said any violations discovered during the investigation should be referred to the Texas Attorney General for civil enforcement and to local prosecutors for potential criminal action.
“American citizenship is not for sale and Texas will not permit our healthcare system to be used as a magnet for birth tourism,” Abbott wrote.
Mission Regional Medical Center said the advertisements were no longer in use due to what it described as an unintended misunderstanding.
“The marketing materials regarding maternity services are no longer in use due to any unintended misunderstanding,” a hospital spokesperson said. “We do not support or facilitate any unlawful activity and work to comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.”
The hospital said the campaign began in 2021 and included two billboards located about five miles from the facility near a U.S.-Mexico border crossing.
“We intend to work cooperatively and transparently with local and state officials,” the hospital said in a statement. “Our focus remains on delivering safe, high-quality care to every patient who seeks our services.”
The investigation comes as legal challenges continue over President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to restrict automatic birthright citizenship in certain cases.
