California raids against maternity tourism: who is being punished

On Tuesday, March 3, while most Americans were busy presidential primaries on Super Tuesday, federal immigration agents raided Southern California against alleged operators of the so-called maternity tourism, writes Fox News.

Photo: Shutterstock

According to the Orange County Register, such companies can charge pregnant women from other countries up to $ 50 for services such as lodging, meals, and transportation to and from the doctor’s office and hospital.

One such company that has undergone rigorous analysis is the 28-room JR Motel. This former Orange motel is located approximately 30 miles (48,28 km) southeast of Los Angeles. The motel was used as an overnight stay or guest house for women from China.

Many pregnant women came here, lived for some time, after which they left to give birth to a local hospital. Their children immediately received American citizenship "by birth." Automatic citizenship is granted to anyone who was born in the USA, as it is written in the 14th amendment to the US Constitution.

However, President Trump and other critics argue that some people use the amendment for other purposes, so they want to tighten the rules.

“We take this very seriously,” Trump told reporters last August.

On the subject: Maternity Tourism: US restricted entry for pregnant women

Motel JR operates without prior reservation and without any indication that it accepts room reservations from the public, the Register said. But it has a children's room, and it provides strollers, daily meals for clients and transportation to and from the doctor, the report said.

“It’s clear this is not a motel,” city Planning Commissioner David Vasquez told the Register.

At a public hearing on Monday, March 2, the day before the raids in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties, the Orange Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend revoking the motel's construction license, pointing out alleged zoning violations.

On the subject: Who can come to the USA on H-2A and H-2B work visas in 2020?

Louis's lawyer, representing the owner of the motel, said after the hearing that he hoped to strike a deal with local officials. He said that not all women were from other countries.

“We also have local residents and their families,” Lu told the Register.

After raids on Tuesday, February 3, federal immigration officials said they had not arrested or charged anyone.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Dark tourism: why people like to go to dangerous places

Maternity Tourism: US restricted entry for pregnant women

Who are the 'anchor' children, where does the trend give birth to in the USA in Ukraine, and why does Trump fight this?

Personal experience: mothers from Kazakhstan told about childbirth in the USA

Maternity Tourism in Los Angeles: Who Rides and How Much Pays

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