Official U.S. Department of Justice announcements or court records

California Woman Sentenced to 41 Months for $40,000 'Birth Tourism' Scheme

Jan 28, 2025, 02:30 AM

A California woman, Phoebe Dong, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for her role in a 'birth tourism' scheme. Dong and her ex-husband, Michael Liu, operated a business called USA Happy Baby, helping over 100 pregnant Chinese women travel to the U.S. to give birth, thereby granting their children American citizenship under the 14th Amendment. The scheme involved coaching clients on deceiving U.S. immigration officials, including using airports with perceived lax security and wearing loose clothing to hide pregnancies. The business charged clients as much as $40,000 for services, including accommodations in Southern California. Dong and Liu were convicted in September 2024 of conspiracy and money laundering. Liu received the same 41-month sentence in December 2024. The case was part of a broader Obama-era federal probe into 'birth tourism' businesses, which have long operated in the U.S. targeting clients from countries like China, Russia, and Nigeria. U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner ordered Dong's immediate custody despite her lawyer's request for a delay due to her children. The sentencing comes as President Donald Trump's executive order to narrow birthright citizenship was blocked by a federal judge. Dong plans to appeal the sentence.