Texas State Legislator Calls for Special Session to Combat Birth Tourism
After the U.S. Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship in Trump v. Barbara, contrary to the original meaning of the 14th Amendment, Republicans largely condemned the decision. A Texas state legislator, however, is calling on state leaders to take substantive action to combat birth tourism.
State Representative Calling for Action
On July 1, Texas Representative Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) issued a statement declaring that “Texans deserve action, not just rhetoric, from their state leaders.”
He continued:
Texas must start acting like the sovereign state it is and stop taking it on the chin when actions from DC threaten to destroy the very fabric of our republic. Texas must not simply act like a powerless bystander but take bold and decisive action to protect liberty for future generations. I am publicly demanding an immediate special session to combat the harms from mass birth tourism, pressure the federal government to fix birth tourism, and to protect the value of citizenship that countless paid the ultimate price for.
Harrison ended his statement by stating, “I hope every elected Republican in Texas joins my call for immediate action. Delay is unacceptable for a state like Texas!”
Others Joining
On July 7, he issued another statement calling on the Texas Department of State Health Services to stop issuing birth certificates to noncitizens, arguing that the agency already had authority to take such action. Bo French, the Republican nominee for Texas Railroad Commissioner, earlier made the same call, noting that “the correct response to the [Supreme Court’s] traitorous decision … is nullification.”
Top Texas officials have not directly responded to Harrison’s statements. However, the Legislature is examining whether to ban surrogacy for foreigners, and on July 7, Governor Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to investigate a South Texas hospital for promoting birth tourism. Additionally, Representative Chip Roy (R-Texas) responded to Harrison’s call for a special session by noting that “Texas should do this — and more.”
States Must Reassert Sovereignty
Harrison’s call for a special session raises an important principle: Constitutionally, the states retain their sovereign authority to restrict immigration within their borders — and they must act to protect American sovereignty and deter mass migration. In fact, Texas acted itself to secure its border with Mexico, including by building border barriers, spending record sums on border security, and criminalizing illegal migration. Having a Republican occupy the U.S. presidency does not absolve the states from this duty.
Texas state officials must heed Harrison’s call and act boldly to stop mass migration and nullify all unconstitutional federal acts.
This article is part of JP’s weekly online newsletter Insider Report, which is emailed to TNA subscribers each week. Click here to subscribe to JP to receive the Insider Report and access exclusive content.