FBI 今日凌晨突襲南加20所月子中心
FBI特勤人員今早突襲了位於LA, Orange, San Bernardino 3 個縣內的20個華人月子中心。 生育旅遊並不違法，但是經營者可能面臨簽證欺詐和偽造文件等犯罪指控。FBI沒有逮捕月子中心待產的婦女，只是把她們當作重要證人做詢問，收集證據。
月子中心待產的收費從4萬到8萬美元不等。到醫院生產時，通常的收費是25000美元。但是有的人會以無保險和低收入等理由，獲得減免，只付4000美元。醫院為此損失不少。
經營者是這樣推銷他們的生意的：孩子生在美國，就會成為美國公民，可以享受免費的教育，高質量的空氣，最終父母也可以移民來美國成為美國公民。
一個姓吳的懷孕待產婦女這樣對洛杉磯時報記者說：我只是想讓我未來的女兒有一個更好的生活。“如果中國好，我還有必要來到美國生孩子嗎？”
根據一項研究，每年美國有4萬兒童為旅遊簽證者所生。
Hotels Where Wealthy Pregnant Chinese Give Birth Raided By FBI
FBI agents raided an Irvine apartment complex that was allegedly housing pregnant women as part of a "birth tourism" scheme (Screengrab via Fox News) In a major sting early this morning, FBI agents raided 20 SoCal "maternity hotels" allegedly involved in a scheme that arranges for wealthy pregnant Chinese nationals to give birth to their children in America so the children can garner U.S. citizenship. At different locations throughout Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties, Feds raided apartment complexes, aka "birthing centers," they believed were housing the pregnant women, as well as the homes of the masterminds behind the "birth tourism" scheme, reported the L.A. Times. Officials said there were three businesses they targeted. The feds didn't arrest the women, but are treating them as material witnesses and interviewing them, according to NBC News. While birth tourism isn't illegal, the operators of the alleged schemes are in hot water and could face criminal charges. They're being accused of taking part in visa fraud and conspiracy by coaching women on how to obtain tourist visas, falsifying records and giving them pointers on how to talk to immigration officers at LAX, according to search warrant affidavits unsealed today. Birth tourism operators charge foreign nationals tens of thousands of dollars to help them give birth in the U.S., according to the affidavits. Pregnant women reportedly paid $40,000 to $80,000 to stay at one of the birthing centers, a fancy, resort-like apartment complex in Irvine called the Carlyle, which comes along with amenities like a pool and cabanas. The women are pampered at these fancy digs with handlers acting as their chauffeurs, taking them around to restaurants and stores. When they go into labor, they're sent to local hospitals, where they pay discounted rates: instead of $25,000, some of these women are only forking over $4,000 to nothing through claiming that they're uninsured, low-income patients, the affidavits said. Hospitals are apparently losing lots of money over these births. These operations allegedly advertise the benefits that would come out of having a child with U.S. citizenship, which include free education, better air quality and a way for parents to eventually immigrate to America themselves. One pregnant woman questioned who only went by her last name Wu, told the L.A. Times she wanted a better life for her future daughter. "If things were good in China, why would we need to come here?" she asked. As for how widespread of a practice this is, a study mentioned in the affidavit found that 40,000 children a year were born to women on travel visas.
（http://laist.com/2015/03/03/birth_tourism_fbi_raid.php）
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