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‘Tourist’ Maternity Wards Shut Down in California
Authorities in San Gabriel, Calif., have shut down three fancy townhouses that were operating as maternity centers for Chinese mothers who paid through the nose to ensure their children were born in the United States, thereby becoming automatic citizens.
Citing code violations such as structural walls that had been breached, city inspectors and the police closed the buildings that are located in a Los Angeles suburb with a heavy Asian population. According to the women in the houses at the time they were shut down, their families paid to send them to the U.S. to give birth. The homes were where the women stayed before and after giving birth at local hospitals.
There’s not a law against pregnant women visiting the U.S. to give birth, and all children born in this country are granted citizenship. What’s unusual about this case, according to experts who spoke to MSNBC, is that it appears that women traveled from the Far East through an organized travel agency business.
“What this could suggest is … they’re taking it to the next step. Whoever is organizing this type of operation is buying or leasing a home to become a clearing house. That’s a serious problem,” said the executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Immigration Studies.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said they would only investigate if the case involved fraudulently obtained visas.
Regardless, the case is sure to incite Republican lawmakers, who have been eyeing limiting automatic citizenship for children born in the United States. A proposed bill — that’s moving slowly through the ranks — would limit automatic citizenship to people with at least parent who is a citizen, a legal permanent resident or served in the military, according to MSNBC. Some states have also tried to limit birthright citizenship, including Arizona, where the state Senate last week shot down illegal immigration bills that included language about who is entitled to citizenship at birth.
Since “birthing tourism” makes up only a small fraction of immigrants and tourists in the United States, and since it’s not illegal for women to come to this country and give birth (whether on purpose or not), then I can’t imagine why anyone would target the practice (unless the women are being taken advantage of or are being made to stay in unsafe or unsanitary conditions). Yet somehow I feel like there are enough anti-immigration people out there who will make it their mission to stop this legal practice from continuing. And I think that’s too bad, not to mention sadly xenophobic.
Meanwhile, the so-called “tourist” maternity wards in San Gabriel are being renovated to comply with city code.
Do you have a problem with the idea of tourist maternity wards?
Image: Creative Commons
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14 Comments
Lisa commented on Mar 24 11 at 9:06 pmYes. Yes I do. We should have control over who we add to our country. This removes that control and is unacceptable.
BlackOrchid commented on Mar 24 11 at 9:14 pmIt should absolutely be stopped. Ridiculous! Xenophobic? Hell I’d rather my children were Italian citizens (since we’ve obviously lost our minds) – I guess I’ll be booking a flight at nine months – oh wait, you mean NO OTHER COUNTRY would grant automatic citizenship just for being born within its borders?
Oh but we should, cos otherwise we’re mean old xenophobes. Call me whatever you wish; citizenship should MEAN something. This sort of thing – I don’t care how widespread it is – has to end.
Brittanicus commented on Mar 24 11 at 10:05 pmIn SAN GABRIEL, Calif. last week authorities have closed three effluent townhouses that were operating as a maternity homes for Chinese mothers paying thousands of dollars in fees to give birth in the America so the children would automatically gain citizenship. Police and city health inspectors found seven newborns and two mothers when they closed the homes for building code violations.The women stayed at the property before and after giving birth at local hospitals, a spokesman said. U.S. law automatically entitles children born on U.S. soil to citizenship, and it is NOT illegal for expectant women to visit the U.S. to give birth? This has become a multi-million dollar ponzi scheme, brought to us by Liberal interpreted- from- the-bench Liberal judges. Iowa Republican Rep. Steve King sponsored a bill that would limit automatic citizenship to people with at least one parent who is a citizen, a legal permanent resident or served in the military. The organization called NumbersUSA, shows information, H.R. 140 on there million member website, that the amendment to the 14th Amendment and now has 71 Sponsors to halt this financial loss. Taxpayers are force by unfunded mandatory law, to pay $6.000 to 8.000 dollars per delivery or more according to hospital fees. Call your Senator or Congressman at and demand they become a sponsor for H.R. 140, to aid in saving your country from insolvency YOU WILL LOCATE YOUR FEDERAL, STATE POLITICIANS IN THE BLUE PAGES OF YOUR PHONE DIRECTORY.
In Europe regular police departments are not restricted, by Liberal prohibitions with such ill-conceived agenda’s as “Political Correctness” having every right to check an individual’s immigration status, whether they are driving or a pedestrian. In Germany, France of even Britain you had better have your passport on your person or other government ID, when it’s requested by the authorities today.
Those of us who are tired of the money influences and power of corporate and business entities, the church, special interest groups, and radical groups, should become a member of the rising sway of the TEA PARTY. I personally have had it, with my taxes being taken to pay for foreign invaders support. Many of who are only interested in taking our money, refuse to learn the language or assimilate, dissimilar to the early immigrants passing through Ellis Island. They came here with nothing and didn’t take advantage of taxpayers as back then their was no education, health care or anything else for new arrivals. Just prison! Tea Party is apposed to any form of Amnesty, which includes so-called Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Rescind the birthright citizenship law, except where one parent is a citizen, Any form of Dream Act or Sanctuary City policies (STEALTH AMNESTIES), until the border fence is sealed tight and controlled by at least 5.000 military presence. America will always be susceptible talented workers of the highest spectrum, but not the beleaguered uneducated and hoping to reach this country, to take advantage of its gainful welfare programs.
Amanda commented on Mar 24 11 at 10:11 pmBeing against illegal immigration is NOT the same as being anti-immigrant, even though many liberals can’t seem to grasp that.
goddess commented on Mar 24 11 at 11:25 pmThis liberal not only grasps it, but agrees with you 1000%.
vstrvstr commented on Mar 25 11 at 8:53 amour population is over 300 million – adding 1/3 of that number just in the last 50 years due to immigrant growth and higher birth numbers. We’re not a nation of immigrants – our ancestors were immigrants. And when our ancestors immigrated here, there were controls on immigration. Now if anyone dare suggests doing so, you’re racist, anti-immigrant, xenophobic.. etc. Political Correctness is the death of this nation.
CDN Andrea commented on Mar 25 11 at 9:29 amThe U.S is not the only country that grants citizenship only by virtue of being born there, Canada does as well. The U.S also taxes ALL of its citizens, no matter where they live or earn their money. If you don’t like it, change your constitution but what these people are doing is not illegal.
Amanda commented on Mar 25 11 at 10:36 amCDN Andrea – It may not be illegal, but it is wrong. And a constitutional change may not actually be necessary if it was deemed that an illegal alien is not technically under the juristiction of the US in the first place. The 14th amanendment says, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, AND subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” If the courts ruled that a pregnant woman who had no right to be here was not “subject to the juristiction” of the US, her child would no longer get automatic citizenship. I hope that birthright citizenship for these individuals continues to be challenged in the courts.
Bunnytwenty commented on Mar 25 11 at 11:46 am“Those of us who are tired of the money influences and power of corporate and business entities, the church, special interest groups, and radical groups, should become a member of the rising sway of the TEA PARTY.”
There is nothing about this sentence that is not hilarious.
Those who oppose the immigration of people from other countries would be well-advised to remember that our ancestors were immigrants, and that the native Americans were hardly thrilled when we got here. Unless you’re opposed to the entire existence of this country, opposing immigration is hypocritical, and yes, xenophobic and racist.
Bill commented on Mar 25 11 at 2:22 pmAll qualified to be President of the United States!! What a joke.
The 14th amendment was not written to include children born to foreigners on US soil as citizens.
Amanda commented on Mar 25 11 at 3:35 pmBunnywenty – I think I was referring to people like you who cannot sem to undersand that many of us who are against illegal immigration and oppose amnesty and automatic birthright citizenship wholeheartedly embrace LEGAL immigration. Legal immigrants are often some of the most patriotic among us and contribute richly to our society and culture.
Bankroller commented on Mar 25 11 at 4:55 pmLooks like a Chinese government funded double agent baby factory. The ChiComs will probably get their sleeper agent POTUS in about 35 years, very much like the foreign agent usurper currently occupying the White House.
CDN Andrea commented on Mar 31 11 at 7:47 am@Amanda- “If the courts ruled that a pregnant woman who had no right to be here was not “subject to the juristiction” of the US, her child would no longer get automatic citizenship” and if they did that they would be going entirely against everything else in the law. Whether you are in a country legally or not, you are subject to its jurisdiction- you are not able to break the laws of that country with impunity. The exception is for diplomats who truly are not subject to the jurisdiction of the host country. And-surprise-!! children born to diplomats in the States (or anywhere else) don’t get citizenship just by being born in the host country. I agree it would be convenient for courts to interpret the law to suit your agenda, but unfortunately you have an independent and largely non-partisan justice system.
What exactly is wrong with what they are doing? I haven’t seen anything to suggest that they are in the country illegally. If they have been granted a temporary resident visa to visit and they have a child while in the US- I fail to see what the moral outrage is about.
Maralago commented on Apr 07 11 at 1:13 pmI’m so sick of people throwing up that tired old “Our ancestors were immigrants” BS. Yeah, OVER 100 YEARS AGO. When we weren’t filled to the brim and unable to feed, house & medically care for a significant portion of our population. But this case is actually scarier than the usual “anchor baby” stories we hear about Mexicans, this is wealthy individuals from our biggest enemy – and yes, China is way worse than any Arab country, just look who we owe more than double our GDP to – deliberately coming to the US to create American citizens. These “citizens” then can come back here in a few years and own media companies; that is NO small thing. Look what Murdock did with Fox News – he became a US citizen JUST SO HE COULD BUY TV STATIONS. And thus get his message out. But he’s just one guy. We have no idea how many of these birthers are coming here, just because they only caught a few dozen in California doesnt’ mean it isn’t going on quietly all over the country. We need to end automatic citizenship NOW, this is no longer just a case of not wanting to pay for services for poor Mexicans kids (although that’s enough for me). This is national security. Oh, and Bankroller, you’re a total ahole calling Obama a “sleeper agent” – can you even wipe yourself with that IQ? We had 8 years of the biggest psycho in history with Curious George Bush; you don’t like that someone else replaced him? YOU MOVE TO CHINA. But stop lying about our President’s background, it really is the stupidest comment ever.
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