It is reportedly the first time the US has criminally prosecuted birth tourism operators
Twenty people have been charged in the largest-ever crackdown on businesses that help Chinese women travel to the United States to give birth to babies who automatically are American citizens, authorities said on Thursday.
Three people were arrested in Southern California on charges including conspiracy, visa fraud and money laundering. More than a dozen others have also been charged in cases stemming from three so-called birth tourism businesses, with many believed to be in China, the US Attorney’s office said.
It is the first time the United States has criminally prosecuted birth tourism operators, said Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the US attorney’s office.
The businesses – which were raided by federal agents in 2015 – billed Chinese women tens of thousands of dollars to travel to California to deliver their babies in American hospitals so the children would automatically obtain US citizenship, prosecutors said.
It is not illegal to visit the United States while pregnant but authorities said the businesses touted the benefits of having US citizen babies and had women hide their pregnancies while seeking travel visas and lie about their planned trips.
