Man sentenced for helping pregnant Chinese women travel to give birth in the US
LOS ANGELES — A California man was sentenced Monday to nearly 3 1/2 years in prison for running a sprawling business that helped pregnant Chinese women travel to the United States to deliver babies who would automatically receive U.S. citizenship.
US authorities had sought a five-year prison sentence for Michael Wei Yueh Liu, who was convicted in September of conspiracy and money laundering for running a company known as USA Happy Baby. Phoebe Dong, who was married to Liu – although the couple have since separated – was also convicted in connection with the scheme and is expected to be sentenced at a later date.
After receiving a 41-month prison sentence, Liu was led from the courtroom by authorities and taken into custody. He gave his lawyer his belt and a folder and held Dong’s hand for a moment as she cried.
Federal prosecutors declined to immediately comment after Monday’s hearing.
U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner said he arrived at the sentencing decision taking into account the convictions and some leniency due to Liu’s responsibility as a caregiver to his elderly parents and his 13-year-old son.
Authorities said USA Happy Baby helped hundreds of women travel from China to deliver babies to U.S. citizens between 2012 and 2015. The couple charged the tourists as much as $40,000 for services including apartment rentals during their stay in Southern California, and worked with foreign entities that coached women on what to say during visa interviews and upon arrival at U.S. airports, and advised them on loose wear clothes to hide their pregnancy.
“For tens of thousands of dollars each, the defendant helped his numerous clients deceive U.S. authorities and purchase U.S. citizenship for their children,” U.S. prosecutors wrote in court filings. “This criminal conduct is serious and requires meaningful punishment to promote respect for the law and hold the suspect accountable.”
Kevin Cole, Liu’s attorney, previously said his client faces a sentence of up to 26 months and asked that he be allowed to serve it from home. Liu, a 59-year-old father of three who was born in Taiwan, graduated from college and served in the military there, has no criminal record and is the home caregiver for his parents, taking them to medical appointments and giving them baths. and cooking their food, Cole said in court filings.
“Sir. Liu poses no threat to society and a lengthy prison sentence is not necessary to deter him,” Cole said.
The case against Liu and Dong dates back many years. Federal authorities sought more than a dozen Southern California homes in action against ‘birth tourism’ operators in 2015 and four years later charged the pair along with more than a dozen others, including a woman who pleaded guilty and did so convicted up to 10 months in prison for running a company known as You Win USA.
Such companies have long operated in California and other states, serving people not only from China but also from Russia, Nigeria and elsewhere. It is not illegal to visit the United States while pregnant, but lying to U.S. consular and immigration officials about your reasons for traveling based on government documents is not allowed.
The main draw for travelers is that the United States has birthright citizenship, which many believe could help their children get an American college education and provide some sort of future insurance policy – especially since the tourists themselves can apply for permanent residency once their American child is born. turns 21.
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to put an end to it birthright citizenship once in office, but such an effort would face steep legal hurdles.