According to a representative for the US Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California, a California woman was given a sentence of more than three years in prison for her involvement in a birth tourism scheme in which women traveled to the US to give birth and grant birthright citizenship to their offspring.
In September, Jing Dong, also called Phoebe Dong, and her husband, Michael Wei Yueh Liu, were found guilty on ten counts of international money laundering and one conspiracy charge. Liu received the same 41-month prison sentence as Dong last year.
The punishment coincides with President Donald Trump’s efforts to revoke birthright citizenship, despite the fact that the case is several years old. A federal judge in Seattle temporarily stopped his executive order to end it.
Children born in the United States are regarded as citizens of the United States under the 14th Amendment. In order to grant their children U.S. citizenship, some pregnant women come to the country to give birth.
In 2019, Dong and Liu were among over a dozen individuals charged with birth tourism. The 19 defendants reportedly helped hundreds of women give birth in the US and were connected to three different scams.
Authorities claim that the three companies marketed the US as the most desirable country with the best educational resources, including free public high school education up to junior high school.
In a 2019 press release on the indictments, Joseph Macias, who was the special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles at the time, said, “America’s way of life is not for sale.” HSI will vigorously pursue those who would use our laws and principles for their own gain and enrichment.
Nobody needs to be reminded of the threats to public safety and national security posed by visa fraud, nor the associated crimes. We should caution anyone who tries to exploit our nation’s compassion and legal immigration system that they could suffer dire repercussions.
The Department of Justice claims that Dong and Liu charged Chinese clients tens of thousands of dollars to assist them in giving birth in the United States between January 2012 and March 2015.
They rented out flats to pregnant Chinese women and operated a maternity house in Rancho Cucamonga, California. After giving delivery, women typically returned to China within a month or two.
Although pregnant individuals are permitted to travel to the United States, Customs and Border Protection notes on its website that when deciding whether to grant admission, agents will take into account the pregnant individual’s due date and the duration of their intended stay.
Authorities claim that Liu and Dong will counsel their clients on how to hide their pregnancies.
According to the Justice Department, they would advise clients to fly into the United States through ports of entry that they believe have less stringent customs scrutiny, like Hawaii, before traveling to Los Angeles, to wear loose-fitting clothing, to choose lines at customs that they believe are less stringent, and to respond appropriately to questions from customs officials.
RESOURCE
Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.