Federal Agents Raid 20 Suspected 'Maternity Hotels' In California

[LibCampFireClub 635]

It's only illegal if the parents admit they came to the US for the sole purpose of creating an "anchor baby." Most know better than to admit that. It's a stupid law that remains because the same folks who read the headlines about illegals streaming over our southern borders every day, are the very same ones who never took the time to learn the name of their congressman, and write him or her a letter about why they like anchor babies more than streaming illegals.

[novedsac 355]

It's only illegal if the parents admit they came to the US for the sole purpose of creating an "anchor baby." Most know better than to admit that. It's a stupid law that remains because the same folks who read the headlines about illegals streaming over our southern borders every day, are the very same ones who never took the time to learn the name of their congressman, and write him or her a letter about why they like anchor babies more than streaming illegals.

Seems US Officials disagree with that assessment:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/17/AR2010071701402.html

U.S. officials confirm that it is not a crime to travel to the United States to give birth so that the child can have U.S. citizenship. "You don't deny someone because you know they're going to the U.S. to have children," said a U.S. Embassy spokesman in Beijing, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing embassy rules

[LibCampFireClub 635]

Seems US Officials disagree with that assessment:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/17/AR2010071701402.html

U.S. officials confirm that it is not a crime to travel to the United States to give birth so that the child can have U.S. citizenship. "You don't deny someone because you know they're going to the U.S. to have children," said a U.S. Embassy spokesman in Beijing, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing embassy rules

It's a lot more complicated than that. It's the same with a marriage visa. If the beneficiary states to the conoff that the only reason that he or she wants the visa is to gain entry to the US, then they can and should be denied on that basis. However, you can say, "wink-wink" that I am a birdwatcher and want to take photos of birds near the baby hospital and our hotel. Yes, my wife who is really, really pregnant will accompany me.

However, just like streaming illegals, no one in government seems to have a pair to deal with the law as it's written.

[Dakine10 5,452]

It's only illegal if the parents admit they came to the US for the sole purpose of creating an "anchor baby." Most know better than to admit that. It's a stupid law that remains because the same folks who read the headlines about illegals streaming over our southern borders every day, are the very same ones who never took the time to learn the name of their congressman, and write him or her a letter about why they like anchor babies more than streaming illegals.

I wouldn't get too worked up about it. The way we are going, by the time these kids are 21, there will probably be more reasons to move to China than to come to the US.

[LibCampFireClub 635]

I wouldn't get too worked up about it. The way we are going, by the time these kids are 21, there will probably be more reasons to move to China than to come to the US.

Honestly I just watch it go right on by. It would be interesting though to drag my camera out and start taking photos. Maybe make a documentary or TV series on anchor babies.

If China wasn't so polluted I would never have returned here to the US. Well, maybe there were a couple more reasons why I left, like sanitation, health care, government corruption, very slow Internet, censored Internet, always being a laowai, overcrowding, dirty bathrooms without soap and towels. But, there are indeed very positive things:

Fastest, largest and most efficient high speed rail system on earth

Best restaurants

Best hotels

Sweet people

Cheap travel and so many places to go

Small mom and pop business is everywhere 24/7

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Seems US Officials disagree with that assessment:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/17/AR2010071701402.html

U.S. officials confirm that it is not a crime to travel to the United States to give birth so that the child can have U.S. citizenship. "You don't deny someone because you know they're going to the U.S. to have children," said a U.S. Embassy spokesman in Beijing, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing embassy rules

But it is okay to deny someone because we know they are going to be with their loved ones, like their spouse or fiancé.

[novedsac 355]

It's a lot more complicated than that. It's the same with a marriage visa. If the beneficiary states to the conoff that the only reason that he or she wants the visa is to gain entry to the US, then they can and should be denied on that basis. However, you can say, "wink-wink" that I am a birdwatcher and want to take photos of birds near the baby hospital and our hotel. Yes, my wife who is really, really pregnant will accompany me.

However, just like streaming illegals, no one in government seems to have a pair to deal with the law as it's written.

It's not complicated at all.

There is no legal basis to deny a visitor visa to someone solely on the basis of them desiring to have their child in the US. I'm not saying that it's right … but it is not illegal.

I don't see the relevance of the marriage visa … IR1/CR1 are immigrant visas which don't correlate with a nonimmigrant visa at all. A K1, while a nonimmigrant visa, is a special case providing an avenue for adjustment of status after fulfilling its requirements (i.e., getting married within 90 days).

If the couple can convince the consular office of strong enough ties to overcome 'immigrant intent', and no other special considerations are in play, then a consular officer cannot deny on the basis of the couple stating clearing and emphatically that they want their baby born on US soil. That was the point of the reference I provided. The consular officers are not refusing to uphold the law; they don't have the appropriate legal mechanism to prevent it.

Edited March 5, 2015 by novedsac

[novedsac 355]

But it is okay to deny someone because we know they are going to be with their loved ones, like their spouse or fiancé.

Being together with a loved one, spouse, fiancé, is not the basis of denial for any visa i've ever encountered.

If is was, then no, it would not be okay.

[Darnell 8,478]

Federal Agents Raid 20 Suspected 'Maternity Hotels' In California

By Steve Gorman, Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Federal agents raided about 20 Southern California locations on Tuesday suspected of involvement in "maternity tourism" schemes offering travel and lodging services to pregnant foreign women seeking to give birth in the United States, U.S. immigration officials said.

Authorities say the so-called maternity hotels targeted in the sweep catered largely to women from China who paid $15,000 to $50,000, depending on services provided, in hopes of obtaining U.S. citizenship for their children.

The locations searched included apartment complexes and other sites in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties that were suspected of housing foreign clients, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, or ICE.

No criminal arrests were anticipated from Tuesday's raids, which were carried out by federal agents and local law enforcement, the agency said.

The U.S. Constitution grants citizenship to any child born on U.S. soil, regardless of parentage, and immigration experts say there was nothing inherently illegal about women coming from abroad to give birth to children in the United States.

But investigators are seeking evidence related to such possible criminal offenses as visa and tax fraud, money laundering and conspiracy, immigration officials said.

Any women encountered at the locations raided on Wednesday were to be interviewed, and those identified as potential material witnesses will be instructed where and when to report for further questioning, ICE said.

Businesses engaged in maternity tourism, also known as "birth tourism," are believed to have been operating for several years, relying on websites, newspaper advertising and social media to promote their services, immigration officials said.

Based on the results of previous investigations, the women who subscribe apparently pay cash for pre-natal medical treatment and actual delivery of their babies.

As part of the package, clients were promised they would receive Social Security numbers and U.S. passports for their infants - documentation the mothers would take with them when they returned to their home countries, ICE said.

Once the children, who by birth are U.S. citizens, reach adulthood they can apply for visas for family members living abroad.

More expensive packages "include recreational activities, such as visits to Disneyland, shopping malls and even an outing to a firing range," the ICE statement said.

The practices came to public attention in California in recent years when residents of some Los Angeles-area communities complained about what they said were maternity hotels springing up in their neighborhoods, causing sanitation and other issues.

(Reporting by Steve Gorman; Editing by Susan Heavey and Lisa Lambert)

Link here:

http://news.yahoo.com/federal-agents-raid-20-suspected-maternity-hotels-california-175144236.html

coupla points (mine):

1. visa fraud because of fraudulent, 'built' backstories. otherwise this tourism baby-boom stuff is ok.

2. hospitals are being bilked for costs by these people, otherwise this tourism baby-book stuff is ok.

[JohnR! 5,495]

You may be right but I think that in 21 years or so the parents of these anchor babies will all be waiting for their IR visas as impatiently as many are today.

I wouldn't get too worked up about it. The way we are going, by the time these kids are 21, there will probably be more reasons to move to China than to come to the US.

[asisflyer 47]

The article said they paid around 4,000 for delivery. While the cash price might have been 5x higher, this is not far from the Medicaid contract allowable in CA for natural delivery --- so the hospital should be happy to get the 4k cash

Later on, these kids will pay income on Chinese earnings. A bonus.

A giant improvement over illegals using Emergency Medicaid for Delivery to hurt the system ( lose 4k) , putting less into local economies vs. these groups who then later bringing tax revenue on offshore earnings.

DON'T YOU CHINESE GET IT???? ANCHOR BABY is RESERVED for south of the border.....

Edited March 5, 2015 by asisflyer

[Dakine10 5,452]

You may be right but I think that in 21 years or so the parents of these anchor babies will all be waiting for their IR visas as impatiently as many are today.

Not really. Green cards for parents are usually approved quickly and painlessly. In most cases. Not much there for USCIS to scrutinize really.

[JohnR! 5,495]

True, but they will need to send the kids to America first to settle and qualify for IR. It may turn out that might keep them anchored back home rather than on US soil.

Not really. Green cards for parents are usually approved quickly and painlessly. In most cases. Not much there for USCIS to scrutinize really.

[zuluweta 250]

CHINESE MATERNITY HOTEL CLIENTS SKIP OUT ON POTENTIALLY $10M+ IN HOSPITAL BILLS

By Michelle Moons, Breitbart

Among the numerous allegations facing maternity tourism company You Win USA, targeted among other companies in a federal raid last week, is the accusation that the company defrauded a local Orange County hospital by failing to pay potential millions in fees, or paying greatly reduced rates intended for indigent or low-income patients.

Warrant documents detail:

Customers of Chen and Lis visa fraud scheme have the ability to (and do) pay approximately $50,000 to Chen and Li for their service. However, these customers do not pay the full costs incurred and/orbilled by the local hospitals for performing the births, which often exceed $25,000 per birth. In most cases, Chen and Lis customers either fail to pay anything or pay a greatly-reduced amount designed for indigent or low income patients lacking insurance, which is often ony approximately $4,000 per birth. During the approximately two years from January 2013 to presents, more than 400 children linked to Chen and Lis visa fraud scheme were born at just one of the local Orange County hospitals used by Chen and Lis customers.

If each of the 400 customers paid nothing or the $4,000 minimal rate, the local Orange County hospital would have been shorted $10 million or more in hospital birthing service bills.

Breitbart California previously reported on court warrant documents that detail the wealth of many birth tourism customers and the status they enjoy as a result of having American children. Several customers of USA Happy Baby, Inc., one of the other targeted companies, were also noted as employees of the Chinese government.

Three maternity tourism schemes were raided just over a week ago as the result of a joint investigation involving several federal and local law enforcement agencies.

Link here - http://tinyurl.com/l9jrrno

[JohnR! 5,495]

Must be one of the perks of the job. Join the party. Get an anchor baby.

CHINESE MATERNITY HOTEL CLIENTS SKIP OUT ON POTENTIALLY $10M+ IN HOSPITAL BILLS
By Michelle Moons, Breitbart

Among the numerous allegations facing maternity tourism company You Win USA, targeted among other companies in a federal raid last week, is the accusation that the company defrauded a local Orange County hospital by failing to pay potential millions in fees, or paying greatly reduced rates intended for indigent or low-income patients.

Warrant documents detail:

Customers of Chen and Lis visa fraud scheme have the ability to (and do) pay approximately $50,000 to Chen and Li for their service. However, these customers do not pay the full costs incurred and/orbilled by the local hospitals for performing the births, which often exceed $25,000 per birth. In most cases, Chen and Lis customers either fail to pay anything or pay a greatly-reduced amount designed for indigent or low income patients lacking insurance, which is often ony approximately $4,000 per birth. During the approximately two years from January 2013 to presents, more than 400 children linked to Chen and Lis visa fraud scheme were born at just one of the local Orange County hospitals used by Chen and Lis customers.

If each of the 400 customers paid nothing or the $4,000 minimal rate, the local Orange County hospital would have been shorted $10 million or more in hospital birthing service bills.

Breitbart California previously reported on court warrant documents that detail the wealth of many birth tourism customers and the status they enjoy as a result of having American children. Several customers of USA Happy Baby, Inc., one of the other targeted companies, were also noted as employees of the Chinese government.

Three maternity tourism schemes were raided just over a week ago as the result of a joint investigation involving several federal and local law enforcement agencies.

Link here - http://tinyurl.com/l9jrrno