California Man Sentenced in Birth Tourism Case

Michael Wei Yueh Liu, a 59-year-old man from Rancho Cucamonga, California, has been sentenced to nearly 3.5 years in prison for running a 'birth tourism' scheme that enabled over 100 pregnant Chinese women to give birth in the U.S., thereby securing American citizenship for their children. Liu, along with Phoebe Dong, operated USA Happy Baby from 2012 to 2015, charging clients between $20,000 to $100,000 for services including visa procurement, housing, and coaching on how to deceive U.S. immigration authorities. Despite appeals for leniency due to his responsibilities towards his elderly parents and young son, the court emphasized the seriousness of his actions. The scheme involved instructing clients to lie on visa applications and hide their pregnancies to avoid detection. Liu's actions were described as a significant violation that disrespected U.S. law and required a substantial sentence. His co-defendant, Phoebe Dong, is yet to be sentenced.