{"id":126182,"date":"2019-02-03T14:32:10","date_gmt":"2019-02-03T19:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breaking911.com\/?p=126182"},"modified":"2019-02-03T14:32:10","modified_gmt":"2019-02-03T19:32:10","slug":"us-arrests-birth-tourism-operators-linked-to-china-for-the-first-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breaking911.com\/us-arrests-birth-tourism-operators-linked-to-china-for-the-first-time\/","title":{"rendered":"US arrests ‘birth tourism’ operators linked to China for the first time"},"content":{"rendered":"
Federal prosecutors unseal indictments naming 19 people linked to Chinese ‘birth tourism’ schemes that helped thousands of aliens give birth in US to secure birthright citizenship for their children<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n SANTA ANA, Calif. \u2013 Following the arrests this morning of three defendants who allegedly operated \u201cbirth tourism\u201d outfits that catered to Chinese clients, federal authorities today unsealed indictments that charge a total of 19 people linked to three schemes that operated across Southern California and charged clients tens of thousands of dollars to help them give birth in the United States.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The indictments charge operators and clients of three \u201cmaternity house\u201d or \u201cbirthing house\u201d schemes that were dismantled in March 2015 when federal agents executed 35 search warrants, which resulted from international undercover operations.<\/p>\n The 17 cases unsealed today contain the first-ever federal criminal charges brought against operators and customers of birth tourism businesses. The birth tourism operations not only committed widespread immigration fraud and engaged in international money laundering, they also defrauded property owners when leasing the apartments and houses used in their birth tourism schemes, according to the indictments.<\/p>\n These cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\u2019s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles. Substantial assistance was provided by IRS Criminal Investigation, as well as the Irvine Police Department and the San Bernardino County Sheriff\u2019s Department.<\/p>\n The indictments describe birth tourism schemes in which foreign nationals, mostly from China, applied for visitor visas to come to the United States and lied about the length of their trips, where they would stay, and the purposes of their trips \u2013 which were to come to the U.S. for three months to give birth so their children would receive U.S. birthright citizenship.<\/p>\n According to the indictments that charge the operators of the schemes, they coached their Chinese customers how to pass the U.S. Consulate interview in China by falsely stating that they were going to stay in the U.S. for only two weeks. Their clients were also coached to trick U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at ports of entry by wearing loose clothing that would conceal their pregnancies. The indictments also allege that the customers were directed to fly to Hawaii from China \u2013 instead of directly to Los Angeles \u2013 because it was easier to get by CBP in Hawaii. The indictments allege that many of the Chinese birth tourism customers failed to pay all of the medical costs associated with their hospital births, and the debts were referred to collection.<\/p>\n \u201cThese cases allege a wide array of criminal schemes that sought to defeat our immigration laws \u2013 laws that welcome foreign visitors so long as they are truthful about their intentions when entering the country,\u201d said Nick Hanna, U.S. Attorney for the Central District California. \u201cStatements by the operators of these birthing houses show contempt for the United States, while they were luring clients with the power and prestige of U.S. citizenship for their children. Some of the wealthy clients of these businesses also showed blatant contempt for the U.S. by ignoring court orders directing them to stay in the country to assist with the investigation and by skipping out on their unpaid hospital bills.\u201d<\/p>\n Three indictments returned Wednesday by a federal grand jury charge the operators of large birth tourism operations based in Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Pursuant to this week\u2019s indictments, federal authorities this morning arrested three defendants: Dongyuan Li (\u674e\u51ac\u5a9b<\/span>), 41, of Irvine; Michael Wei Yueh Liu (\u5218\u7ef4\u5cb3<\/span>), 53, of Rancho Cucamonga; and Jing Dong (\u8463\u6676<\/span>), 42, of Fontana. All three are charged with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, international money laundering and identity theft. Liu is also charged with filing three false tax returns.<\/p>\n According to the indictments charging the operators, all three businesses touted the benefits of giving birth in the U.S., rather than in China, with claims of the U.S. having \u201cthe most attractive nationality\u201d; \u201cbetter air\u201d and less pollution; \u201cpriority for jobs in U.S. government\u201d; superior educational resources, including \u201cfree education from junior high school to public high school\u201d; a more stable political situation; and the potential to \u201creceive your senior supplement benefits when you are living overseas.\u201d<\/p>\n The indictment naming Li alleges that she operated an Orange County-based business named You Win USA that advertised its \u201c100-person team\u201d in China and the U.S. had served more than 500 Chinese birth tourism customers. Li allegedly used 20 apartments in Irvine, charged each customer $40,000 to $80,000, and received $3 million in international wire transfers from China in just two years. The indictment details communications in which Li referred to U.S. immigration authorities as \u201cthe foreigners\u201d and also discussed whether to refund a down payment because, once the customer found out \u201cthe baby is a girl, her husband arranged abortion for her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReceiving a tourist visa from the United States Government is a privilege, not a right,\u201d stated IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson.\u00a0 \u201cThe indictments announced today confirm IRS Criminal Investigation\u2019s commitment to following the money \u2013 from China to the United States \u2013 to help identify the promoters of this alleged illegal international birth tourism scheme. Using cash, fabricated financial documents, and nominee names for the transfer of money from China to the U.S., the promoters attempted to further their lucrative birth tourism enterprise.\u201d<\/p>\n