A California woman, Phoebe Dong, has been sentenced to more than three years in prison due to her involvement in a birth tourism scheme that facilitated the travel of pregnant Chinese women to the United States, allowing their children to acquire American citizenship. U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner handed down a 41-month sentence for Dong, who, alongside her former husband Michael Liu, was convicted of conspiracy and money laundering through their enterprise, USA Happy Baby, according to AP News.

This sentencing comes amid renewed scrutiny on birthright citizenship in the United States, particularly following recent political efforts to redefine its parameters under the 14th Amendment, a change that has faced legal challenges, including a blocking ruling by a federal judge condemning it as “blatantly unconstitutional” after an executive order issued by President Trump.

Federal prosecutors indicated that from 2012 to 2015, Dong and Liu enabled more than 100 pregnant women to navigate customs by coaching them on how to deceive immigration officials. This included advice on wearing loose-fitting clothing to conceal their pregnancies and instructing them to fly into airports with less stringent checks. Prosecutors noted that services rendered by Dong's company cost clients upwards of $40,000 according to The Guardian.

During the emotional sentencing hearing, Dong recounted her struggles growing up in China under the strict one-child policy, which she claimed led to personal tragedies including her mother's forced abortion. With tears in her eyes, she appealed to the court saying, “I don’t want to lose my kids. I hope you can give me a fair judgment. I will take all my responsibility." Despite her attorney’s plea to allow her to serve her term after Liu completed his, Judge Klausner ordered her immediate incarceration, saying that it was vital to hold her accountable for her actions.

Liu had already received a comparable sentence of 41 months in December. The case forms a part of a broader investigation into several operations assisting women from various countries, including Russia and Nigeria, in a similar manner, highlighting a persistent challenge in U.S. immigration law. Following the same investigations, another operator was believed to have fled to China, while another previously received a ten-month prison term for related offenses CNN reported.

As the legal discourse around birthright citizenship continues, Dong's case serves as a significant element amid ongoing discussions around immigration policy in the United States.