California couple faces up to 20 years for helping Chinese women give birth in US

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

A JURY CONVICTED A CALIFORNIA COUPLE OF RUNNING A TOURISM BUSINESS TO HELP PREGNANT CHINESE WOMEN GIVE BIRTH TO BABIES IN THE U-S WHO WOULD AUTOMATICALLY GAIN U-S CITIZENSHIP.

MICHAEL LIU AND PHOEBE DONG WERE FOUND GUILTY FRIDAY OF TEN COUNTS OF MONEY LAUNDERING AND ONE COUNT OF CONSPIRACY.

THE CASE COMES NEARLY TEN YEARS AFTER MORE THAN A DOZEN HOMES WERE SEARCHED ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AS PART OF CRACKDOWN ON BIRTH TOURISM OPERATORS.

INVESTIGATORS SAY THE PAIR ENCOURAGED PREGNANT WOMEN TO LIE ON VISA DOCUMENTS AND HIDE THEIR PREGNANCIES– SUGGESTING CLIENTS WEAR LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING AND NOT QUOTE “WADDLE LIKE A PENGUIN” IN ORDER TO HIDE PREGNANCIES. 

THE COUPLE RAN THE COMPANY “USA HAPPY BABY” — OFFERING SERVICES TO HUNDREDS OF WOMEN FROM 20-12 TO 2015. TOURISTS REPORTEDLY PAID AS MUCH AS 40-THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE SERVICES.

LIU AND DONG WERE CHARGED IN 2019 WITH MORE THAN A DOZEN OTHERS– INCLUDING A WOMAN WHO PLEADED GUILTY TO RUNNING A COMPANY KNOWN AS “YOU WIN U-S-A” –SHE WAS SENTENCED TO TEN MONTHS IN PRISON.

LIU AND DONG ARE SET TO BE SENTENCED DECEMBER 9TH AND FACE UP TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON.

THE DEFENSE ARGUED BIRTH TOURISM ISN’T A CRIME AND THE PAIR HELPED WOMEN WHO WOULD’VE FACED PUNISHMENT UNDER CHINA’S FORMER ONE-CHILD POLICY. PROSECUTORS SAID VISITING WHILE PREGNANT ISN’T A CRIME BUT DECEIVING IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES IS.

UNDER THE 14TH AMENDMENT THE U-S OFFERS BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP AND PARENTS CAN APPLY TO BECOME CITIZENS ONCE THE CHILD TURNS 21.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.