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A California woman, Phoebe Dong, was sentenced to 41 months in prison on Monday for operating a birth tourism scheme that enabled more than 100 pregnant Chinese women to give birth in the United States, granting their children automatic U.S. citizenship under the country’s birthright citizenship laws.
Dong and her estranged husband, Michael Liu, were convicted in September of conspiracy and money laundering through their company, USA Happy Baby. Liu was handed the same 41-month prison sentence last month. The couple’s business reportedly earned them millions of dollars by exploiting immigration loopholes and catering to wealthy Chinese clients who desired U.S. citizenship for their children.
Prosecutors detailed how Dong and Liu operated their scheme, coaching pregnant women on how to deceive U.S. customs officials. They advised their clients to fly into airports perceived as less stringent, wear loose-fitting clothing to conceal their pregnancies, and provide false reasons for their visits. Clients paid tens of thousands of dollars for the service, which included advice on evading detection, obtaining tourist visas, and securing comfortable accommodations and hospital deliveries in the U.S.
The crackdown on Dong and Liu’s business revealed the scale of the operation, as well as the financial networks used to launder money from their clients. Prosecutors argued that their actions undermined the integrity of U.S. immigration laws and exploited the American healthcare system.
Birth tourism, a controversial practice, has long existed in California and other parts of the United States. Businesses like Dong and Liu’s cater not only to Chinese clients but also to families from Russia, Nigeria, and other countries, all seeking the benefits of U.S. citizenship for their children.
The sentencing has reignited debates over birthright citizenship and the measures needed to combat schemes that abuse the system. For Dong, the sentence marks the culmination of a high-profile investigation that exposed the lengths some families will go to secure opportunities for their children, even if it means breaking the law.
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