Parents do everything possible on this earth for their children to give them the best. In an attempt of this kind, three people have been arrested by US authorities for running “birth tourism” companies that hosted Chinese clients in southern California. It is for the first time, criminal charges over such practice have been filed in a US federal court, reported the media on Thursday.
Federal prosecutors, have further taken 16 more people, declares fugitives, into custody, who are linked to three alleged Southern California birth tourism companies that catered to Chinese clients.
‘Birth Tourism’ is a concept where tourists travel to foreign countries to give birth, so that their children can claim the citizenship of that particular country.
As per ‘jus soli’ (right of the soil), law of the US, babies born on US soil are automatically conferred with the country’s citizenship. But countries like Switzerland and Japan, grant their citizenship only when one or more parents of the newborn have citizenship of their country.
According to the Department of Justice (DoJ), “conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, international money laundering and identity theft”, are the allegations, which charged upon the three people in custody. The investigation found its root from a raid conducted on a number of ‘maternity hotels’ in US in the year 2015.
The birth tourism companies instructed women to wear loose clothing to conceal their pregnancies before US immigration officials. Appearing as normal tourists the pregnant clients from China, paid between $15,000 to $50,000 each, for lodging, transportation and food during their stays.
The DoJ statement says, the accused party advertised access to “the most attractive nationality; better air and less pollution; priority for jobs in US government; superior educational resources, including free education upto high school level; a more stable political situation; and the potential to receive your senior supplement benefits when you are living overseas”.
Giving birth in the US is not illegal, but federal officials can deny visas or entry to foreigners they suspect, are visiting the country for this specific purpose.
