By K.P. Sander

Chino Hills – You may have heard about Birth Tourism, and the so-called Maternity Motels that help to propagate it.  This is a nationwide issue that has been amidst a lot of controversy in the City of Chino Hills, and well beyond.

Wikipedia describes Birth Tourism as travel to another country for the purpose of giving birth in that country.  One of the main reasons for taking such measures is for the newborn to gain citizenship of that country, as well as take advantage of the destination’s healthcare system.

In the United States, our 14^th Amendment to the Constitution guarantees U.S. citizenship to those born on its territory, provided the individual is subject to the jurisdiction thereof.  To stop Birth Tourism, some other countries, such as France, Australia, and the United Kingdom, have made the proviso that at least one parent must be a citizen of the country, or a legal, permanent resident.  The U.S. is unconditional.

The practice of Birth Tourism is popular among women in South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, usually in elite or wealthy circles.  For a fee of around $15,000, women can come to the U.S., take a holiday with sightseeing and shopping excursions, and give birth to an American citizen.  But is this “playing the system” lawful?  Most aspects of it are not.

The organization, Not in Chino Hills, says women are coming to the United States under false pretenses.  They are learning about Birth Tourism through websites instructing them how to come here legally, but that is not necessarily the case.  Some of their guidelines are downright deceitful.

The Chinese website, starbabycare.com – and many others like it – actually provides specific guidelines for giving birth in the United States.  Their hyperbole suggests entering the U.S. two to three months prior to delivery and wearing relaxed and comfortable costumes in order to facilitate the U.S. Immigration process at the airport.  They regale about the benefits of American citizenship, including education, political asylum, and how the baby can help others immigrate on their ticket.

The website offers special “Star Packages,” featuring luxurious accommodations (that look nothing like a hospital, but more like an upscale hotel), promising everything from the ultimate in mother/baby care with full-time nurses and exclusive chefs “preparing meals according to your tastes.”  There’s even a thrice weekly shuttle for shopping trips and site seeing, as well as “major cleaning,” or maid services.  They entice it to sound as if you are booking the vacation of a lifetime abroad.  But who is in charge of the prenatal and neonatal care?

Local attorney, Rossanna Mitchell, who has lived in Chino Hills for 26 years – and is a spokesperson for Not in Chino Hills – says the whole system is misleading.

“Foreign women are being misled by these business operators.  They are flying over here on a tourist visa – ‘to visit Disneyland’ – and told to wear baggy clothes and not let anyone know they are pregnant,” says Mitchell.

The women are seeking the beautiful hospital accommodations shown on the websites, but are arriving in “residential areas where the accommodations are very substandard, with no amenities, and home improvements that are not permitted,” Mitchell adds.

Inspections of such homes have reportedly revealed exposed wires, unsafe water heaters, rooms with illegal distances from combustible appliances, improper ventilation, and a lack of emergency exits.  Generally, there are unsafe accommodations, not to mention the sewage (spillage) and sanitation issues and the excess trash that accompany the retrofitting for excessive occupants.

Mitchell continues, “You can’t turn your residence into a motel.  There are legalities involved.  Plus, a lot of these places are turning cash transactions to evade income taxes.”

Not in Chino Hills hosted a community meeting on Tues., Sept. 9, and Mitchell says good things were accomplished.  They have circulated a petition in order to file a formal complaint against seven of the Chino Hills homes in question.  They plan on sharing this at the next City Council meeting on September 23.  They would also like to direct the Council to emulate what the City of Arcadia has done, and hire a detective dedicated to addressing the illegal tourism business and putting a stop to the maternity motels that are cropping up.

There has been action to help write the wrongs.  State Assemblyman, Curt Hagman (R-Chino Hills), previously introduced a bill that would criminalize the operation of a hotel in a residential zone.

In January 2013, L.A. County Supervisor, Don Knabe, called on the Board of Supervisors to crack down on these maternity motels, which were becoming increasingly ubiquitous in the San Gabriel Valley.

“Across the United States, the recent trend in ‘birthing tourism’ has led to money-making schemes that put the health and safety of mothers and babies in jeopardy.  We have had an increase in complaints from neighboring residents, concerned about the well-being of those in these homes, as well as the concern about the quality of life in residential neighborhoods when these facilities are allowed to operate,” said Knabe.

Several homes have been identified as alleged Maternity Motels in the City of Chino Hills:  14661 Summer Breeze; 3198 Forrest Meadow; 3257 Cottontail; 3601 Hillsdale Ranch; 2502 Paseo Del Palacio; 2857 Calle Lumina; 3733 Cibola Court; 2890 Steeple Chase Drive; and 15693 Deodoer Lane.  Many homes have even undergone substantial renovations to facilitate these birthing centers.

On Dec. 15, 2012, the Chino Champion reported on an alleged Chinese maternity motel located at 15250 Woodglen Drive that underwent a court-ordered inspection.  The original dwelling, built in 1974, had seven bedrooms, and 6.5 bathrooms.  The inspection revealed that the same single-family house contained 17 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms.  Did someone actually issue a permit to approve that construction?  The City says, no.

This isn’t about denying anyone the American Dream, but is American citizenship for really for sale?  As one resident put it, “This is a perversion of our legal system.”

To find out more, visit http://notinchinohills.org.