Florida Doctor Summoned as Congress Reviews Birth‑Tourism Business

Washington — A Florida‑based physician has been formally subpoenaed to appear before a congressional task force investigating the lucrative birth‑tourism industry. Dr. Vladimír Laurentz, who runs the Miami Medical Concierge Services under the banner “Have My Baby in Miami,” will testify on September 1 in Washington, D.C.

The House Oversight Committee, led by Republican Representative Brandon Gill, announced the hearing as part of its “Defending American Citizenship: Confronting Birth Tourism” series. The panel intends to explore how companies market “maternal packages” that promise a U.S. birth and, consequently, automatic citizenship for the child.

Investigators are focusing on whether these businesses manipulate the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause and violate immigration rules. The committee also highlighted security concerns, noting that some clients originate from nations widely regarded as strategic rivals of the United States, such as China and Russia.

In May, the committee sent letters to Laurentz and Dr. Julio Cesar Novoá of International Maternity Services requesting extensive documentation, including marketing brochures, service agreements, and details of their medical‑tourism packages. Both physicians have been ordered to provide the requested information and appear before the task force.

The hearing will also feature Dr. Steven Camerota, research director at the Center for Immigration Studies, who will discuss the intersection of commercial maternity services with immigration policy and national‑security considerations.

While the act of giving birth in the United States is legal, authorities have previously pursued cases involving visa fraud, false statements, tax evasion and money‑laundering linked to commercial maternity schemes. The congressional review seeks to determine whether additional safeguards are warranted to protect the integrity of U.S. citizenship.