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A6 U.S. NEWS
Friday 1 February 2019

U.S. prosecutors announce Chinese birth tourism crackdown

By AMY TAXIN, Associated charged with violating
Press federal court orders, and
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) a lawyer who helped them
— Dongyuan Li's business leave the country was con-
was called "You Win USA," victed of obstruction of jus-
and authorities say she tice. This week, a federal
coached pregnant Chi- grand jury indicted four
nese women on how to get people who allegedly ran
into the United States to the birth tourism businesses
deliver babies who would until the 2015 raids, includ-
automatically enjoy all the ing Wen Rui Deng, 65, who
benefits of American citi- is believed to be in China
zenship.Over two years, the and accused of operating
now-41-year-old raked in "Star Baby Care."
millions through her busi- That business dated to at
ness, where mothers-to-be least 2010 but advertised
paid between $40,000 and having brought 8,000 wom-
$80,000 each to come to en to the United States —
California, stay in an up- half of them from China —
scale apartment and give and claimed to have been
birth, authorities said. running since 1999, pros-
Li, who was arrested Thurs- ecutors said.
day, is one of 20 people Each business brought hun-
charged in the first federal In this March 3, 2015 file photo, federal agents gather at a nearby parking lot before raiding an dreds of customers to give
crackdown on birth tourism upscale apartment complex where authorities say a birth tourism business charged pregnant birth in the United States
businesses that prosecu- women $50,000 for lodging, food and transportation, in Irvine, Calif. and some didn't pay all
tors said brought hundreds Associated Press of the medical costs tied
of pregnant women to the to their care, prosecutors
United States. visas and lie about their and Customs Enforce- is merely the provider. The said. One couple paid the
Jing Dong, 42, and Michael plans, with one You Win ment's homeland security people who are in China indigent rate for their hospi-
Wei Yueh Liu, 53, who alleg- USA customer telling con- investigations. "Are some are the ones in charge of tal bills — a total of $4,080
edly operated "USA Happy sular officials she was going of them doing it for security everything," he said. — even though they had
Baby," also were arrested. to visit a Trump hotel in Ha- because the United States Birth tourism businesses more than $225,000 in a
More than a dozen others, waii. is more stable? Absolutely. have long operated in U.S. bank account they
including the operator of The charges include con- But will those governments California and other states had used to shop at luxury
a third such business, also spiracy, visa fraud and take advantage of this? and cater to couples from stores including Louis Vuit-
face charges but are be- money laundering. But U.S. Yes, they will." China, Russia, Nigeria and ton, according to court pa-
lieved to have returned to authorities said the busi- Messages left for Li and elsewhere. pers. Li, who operated You
China, the U.S. Attorney's nesses also posed a na- Dong's attorneys were In the past, operators some- Win USA and paid in full for
office in Los Angeles said. tional security risk since not immediately returned. times ran into trouble with a $2.1 million home in Ir-
While it isn't illegal to visit their customers, some Derek Tung, Liu's attorney, local code enforcement vine, California and a new
the United States while who worked for the Chi- said the growing interest officials when neighbors Mercedes-Benz, told an
pregnant, authorities said nese government, secured among Chinese women in residential areas com- undercover federal agent
the businesses — which American citizenship for to give birth to American plained about crowding or who was posing as a preg-
were raided by federal children who can move babies drew attention to excess trash, but they didn't nant Chinese citizen that
agents in 2015 — touted back to the United States a phenomenon long em- face federal scrutiny. her company would train
the benefits of having U.S. and once they're 21 and ployed by citizens of other In 2015, federal agents in her to interview for a visa
citizen babies, who could then sponsor their parents countries. California raided roughly and pass customs, accord-
get free public education for green cards. His client had nothing to do three dozen sites connect- ing to court filings.
and years later help their "I see this as a grave nation- with getting women visas ed with the three business- At one point, the papers
parents immigrate. al security concern and vul- from China but worked al- es. More than 20 people said, she also sent a text
They also allegedly had nerability," said Mark Zito, most as a subcontractor to were designated as mate- message to her husband
women hide their pregnan- assistant special agent- provide housing once they rial witnesses but some lat- about the business, saying
cies while seeking travel in-charge of Immigration arrived, he said. "My client er fled to China and were "After all, this is not legal!"q