A California woman, Phoebe Dong, has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for her involvement in a controversial "birth tourism" scheme that facilitated the travel of pregnant Chinese women to the United States. U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner imposed a 41-month sentence, marking a significant outcome in a case that has drawn considerable media attention and public debate about birthright citizenship. According to AP News, Dong and her husband, Michael Liu, were convicted of conspiracy and money laundering charges through their operation, USA Happy Baby, which reportedly assisted over 100 pregnant women to give birth in the U.S. between 2012 and 2015.

During the proceedings, the prosecution argued that the couple had charged clients tens of thousands of dollars for services and trained them on how to evade U.S. customs officials. Prosecutors alleged they advised women to wear loose-fitting clothing upon arrival to conceal their pregnancies and facilitated their stay in California for the delivery of their children, who would automatically become American citizens under the 14th Amendment.

While being sentenced, an emotional Dong reflected on her own upbringing under China’s strict “one-child” policy, expressing regret and emphasizing her fears of losing her children, stating, “I hope you can give me fair judgment. I will take all my responsibility.” Full details of her comments are documented in reports by South China Morning Post and The Guardian.

Federal prosecutors had sought a much longer sentence, arguing that the operation posed a significant breach of U.S. immigration laws. Furthermore, the case has gained additional relevance following President Donald Trump's recent attempts to redefine birthright citizenship, an effort quickly halted by a federal judge. This has amplified the scrutiny surrounding birth tourism in the ongoing discussions about immigration reform in the U.S., as detailed by VOA News.

Dong's attorney has indicated plans to appeal the ruling, arguing that she received a disproportionately harsh sentence, particularly as many children born in the U.S. under such circumstances are granted citizenship regardless of how their mothers arrived.

The USA Happy Baby case is part of a larger investigation into numerous businesses involved in similar practices, with some operators evading justice or fleeing the country. As the dialogue around immigration and citizenship evolves, the actions of individuals like Dong and Liu are likely to remain central to this contentious issue.