The Fight to Protect American Citizenship Starts in Texas
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When the Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship, America lost a huge battle in preserving her identity. Now, Texas is fighting back by taking steps to criminalize birth tourism.
Since late April, Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that they’re investigating birth tourism in Texas, and many lawmakers are calling for the practice to be made into a felony.
This is a step in the right direction for preserving America’s freedom, culture, and values.
Birth tourism is the practice of traveling to another country with the primary purpose of giving birth there. The goal is to secure citizenship for the newborn through birthright citizenship. Paxton announced he is suing a “birth tourism” center in Houston for “exploiting birthright citizenship by unlawfully facilitating the invasion of Chinese nationals into Texas for the sole purpose of giving birth.”
According to China’s own government, more than 50,000 Chinese babies are born in the United States each year, taken back to China, and later return as American citizens who can vote. Some estimates are even higher, but since the United States does not track the parents’ nationality, we don’t know the full extent of the problem.
Last week, Abbott launched an investigation into a South Texas hospital after it reportedly posted a billboard in Mexico advertising birth tourism packages. The advertisements apparently targeted foreign nationals seeking U.S. citizenship for their children.
“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 in a message to Texas Health and Human Services Commissioner Stephanie Muth.
When the Supreme Court interpreted the 14th Amendment to guarantee birthright citizenship, it legitimized the legal framework that birth tourists exploit. After the ruling, state Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, urged Abbott to call a special session to make birth tourism a felony.
“People are shocked to learn that birth tourism is legal right now under Texas state law,” Harrison said in an interview with the Daily Signal. “We need to make it a state crime.”
While Texas cannot undo the Supreme Court’s decision, according to Harrison, it can do other things to protect citizenship.