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Chinese woman Dongyuan Li sentenced to 10 months over US birth tourism scheme

  • Her company is said to have helped more than 500 Chinese women deliver babies in California so they would receive American citizenship
  • Li expected to be released from custody because of time already served, but will now face deportation proceedings

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Federal agents in March 2015 prepare to raid an upscale apartment complex in Irvine, California, where authorities say a birth tourism business charged pregnant women US$50,000 for lodging, food and transport. Photo: AP

A judge on Monday sentenced a woman to 10 months in prison for her role in a business that helped pregnant Chinese women travel to the United States to give birth to children who would automatically receive US citizenship.

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US District Judge James Selna issued the sentence in Santa Ana, California, to Dongyuan Li, who wiped away tears with her hand several times during the hearing.

Selna said he expected her to be released from custody later on Monday because of time served.

Federal prosecutors opposed the sentence and said they believed Li should be sentenced to years in prison to deter others from helping women lie on visa applications and hide pregnancies in these so-called birth tourism schemes.

“I just think it sends the wrong message,” Charles Pell, the federal prosecutor, told the judge.

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Li pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy and visa fraud for running a birth tourism company in Southern California known as “You Win USA”.

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