Material witness in 'maternity tourism' case arrested at L.A. airport

[Little Tich]

Source: Yahoo! News / Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A woman considered a material witness in an investigation by U.S. immigration authorities into so-called maternity hotels in Southern California has been arrested while trying to flee the country, prosecutors said on Friday.

Ying Wu, 31, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at Los Angeles International Airport last week while attempting to board a flight to China with her husband and newborn child, U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Thom Mrozek said.

Wu has not been charged criminally in connection with the investigation into the maternity hotels, which cater to foreign mothers-to-be seeking U.S. citizenship for their babies, but she had been ordered by a judge to remain in the United States on an unsecured $1,000 bond, Mrozek said.

"We received word that she had made plans to leave with her husband and very young child, several weeks old," he said. "We got an arrest warrant that cited a violation of her release on bond."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/material-witness-maternity-tourism-case-arrested-l-airport-194811275.html

[okaawhatever]

1. OMG AYFKM? Maternity hotels? Sorry, I support immigrants and a good immigration program but

I absolutely do not support this.

[jaysunb]

2. Agreed

I've said for years that, while the country get's it's attention diverted by the idea that "it's just a bunch of Mexicans" running across the border, there're much bigger problems being created with other clever schemes that have nothing to with " poverty back home."
Racism is destructive in many ways......

[secondwind]

3. I remember reading about this once, but never heard more about it.. I agree with you

[Hekate]

4. There was a lengthy article in the Los Angeles Times several weeks ago...

It was a real eye-opener for me. Once again it is apparent that the Chinese do not play by the same set of rules as we do. Pretty much like our dealings with Putin: if we allow ourselves to be taken advantage of, in their minds it is because we are fools and deserve to be taken advantage of.

I have absolutely no problem with genuine immigrants from any continent or culture -- people who come here to stay and share our values and raise their kids here. But this business with well-to-do Chinese grossly manipulating our system and our values is causing me to rethink "birthright citizenship," of which we used to be so proud.

[cosmicone]

5. This comes out of Chinese people's fear

that the Chinese bubble may burst at some point and/or the underpaid workers there would revolt and end their way of life. Having the child born in the US is insurance for the child's future if China collapses.

[ca3799]

6. Here's the scoop on maternity tourism

Maternity tourism is a big business and many US hospitals and free-standing birth clinics cater to maternity tourism with special pricing and pre- and post-delivery care and amenities. Why? Because we are capitalists and like cash money!

For example, a hospital or other birth center may offer special rates for delivery (vag or C/S, midwife or physician, anesthesia or no, etc. Infant care is extra.) that could cover just the hospital delivery at the basic level, or could also include meals delivery and a week at the extended-stay hotel up the street for the post-partum period- whatever the contract allows.

America offers birthright citizenship. (So does Canada.) It is not illegal to have a baby here, even if you are planning to do so only to gain that baby the possibility of citizenship in the future. Many foreign-born women come to the US to deliver their babies as part of a long-term citizenship plan, but it takes 20-35 years to reach the 'payoff.' These are the dreaded "anchor babies" you hear about from time-to-time.

Having a child here could allow that child to claim US citizenship at 18 if they choose to do so. (Maybe they won't.) If they do make their claim (and prove it), that American child, when 21, could then move here and also apply to have his or her spouse, parents, and/or siblings move here and be recognized as 'permanent resident aliens'. These family members could then make their own applications for citizenship if they would like.

Sometimes foreign women come here expressly to give birth. Others just happen to get pregnant while here for work or school or during other long-term visits.

When a foreign woman wants to come here just to give birth she must get a passport and visa (or sneak in).

When she applies for these in her home country and she is obviously pregnant, she will be asked if she plans to give birth here. It she says "yes" (again, not illegal) then she will be asked to prove that she intends to return home after having the baby by showing family ties, housing, employment, and banking information. She will also be asked to show her contract for her delivery plan and that she has the money to pay for it. Foreigners are NOT allowed to come here and have a baby on the US taxpayer dime. If they do this, they could be expelled, must repay the debt, and will also lose the ability to return to the US in the future.

But, the baby is and American citizen and is entitled to all the benefits available to any other citizen ('welfare', Medicaid, etc.).

There have been half-hearted attempts to sort this constitutional, political and policy issue out, but it is still unresolved.