California Woman Jailed for Birth Tourism Scheme
Phoebe Dong received a 41-month prison sentence for her role in the USA Happy Baby scheme, which facilitated birth tourism for over 100 pregnant Chinese women seeking US citizenship for their children. Dong and her husband, Michael Liu (also sentenced to 41 months), were convicted of conspiracy and money laundering, having coached clients on deceiving US customs officials. Despite Dong’s emotional plea citing her personal experiences and hardships, the judge denied her request to serve her sentence after Liu’s. This case highlights the ongoing debate surrounding birthright citizenship in the United States and forms part of a larger crackdown on birth tourism operations.
John Q. Hosedrinker