Texas Shut Down Major Birth Tourism Operation
The state Attorney General ended a firm that facilitated over 1,000 births for international clients.
Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in Immigration
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has shut down the De'Ai Postpartum Care Center, a company that operated four homes and facilitated more than 1,000 births. The firm agreed to cease all birth tourism operations following a lawsuit over deceptive business practices.
Why it matters
The company reportedly coached clients to conceal pregnancies from customs officials to bypass visa requirements. This intervention highlights state efforts to crack down on the practice of entering the country solely to obtain birthright citizenship.
The firm managed four homes with the capacity to facilitate 20 births per day. Operations spanned a 20-year period from 2006 to 2026.
The players
Ken Paxton
He is the Attorney General of Texas who led the state's legal action against the birth tourism company.
Lin Suling
She is a principal of the company that operated birth tourism homes in Texas.
Lai Wan Lin-Chan
She is a principal of the company that operated birth tourism homes in Texas.
The details
De'Ai Postpartum Care Center coached clients on how to avoid scrutiny during visa interviews and airport screenings. The company specifically encouraged applicants to secure travel visas before their pregnancies became visible to immigration authorities.
Timeline
The firm operated in Texas between 2006 and 2026.
Federal authorities began monitoring birth tourism cases in 2020.
The Supreme Court ruled on 14th Amendment birthright citizenship in summer 2026.
Texas shut down the birth tourism company in September 2026.
Political Context
Opponents of such state interventions argue that these measures interfere with federal immigration jurisdiction and existing constitutional interpretations. Proponents maintain that states have a right to regulate deceptive businesses that operate to circumvent federal visa laws.
Residents may see increased oversight regarding short-term rental properties or businesses suspected of facilitating visa fraud. The state legal action sets a precedent for how Texas addresses entities that induce violations of federal immigration law.
The takeaway
This case underscores the intense focus on birth tourism as a method to circumvent U.S. visa regulations. Readers should be aware that coming to the U.S. solely to give birth is not recognized as a valid purpose for travel visas.
Further reading
For more on how local and state authorities address residency and legal status, visit Immigration.
Live Poll
Do you support state officials shutting down businesses that facilitate birth tourism?
