LA County plans move on immigrant birthing hotels
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Los Angeles County is planning a crackdown on makeshift maternity wards where mothers from other countries stay while giving birth so their children will be U.S. citizens.
The county has received 60 complaints about such facilities in the past month, according to a report by the Planning Department submitted to the Board of Supervisors, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.
That compared to just 15 complaints in the previous five years. The surge might be due to publicity over the closure of a house in Chino Hills that authorities contended had been used to house as many as 30 Chinese women.
It isn't illegal for foreign citizens to give birth in the U.S., but authorities say the maternity tourism hotels frequently are remodeled single-family homes in areas that aren't zoned for hotels or boarding houses.
County Supervisor Don Knabe wants to develop a county law that would specifically outlaw such facilities.
"They're a moneymaking machine. They're totally unsafe," Knabe said. "It's so obvious that they jeopardize not only the health of the baby, but the mother as well."
The Planning Commission report said efforts were being made to crack down on the hotels for zoning, building and health code violations.
Pregnant women, many from Asia, can pay thousands of dollars to stay in the facilities, authorities said.
Officials who went to the Chino Hills home in November said the single-family home had been divided into 17 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms. Neighbors complained of a sewage spill from an overloaded septic tank.
The house was shut down after the city sued the owners.
Elsewhere, joint inspections have been staged by the planning, public works and child welfare departments, and cases have been referred to the state tax board, the report said.
Inspections can be difficult because people answering the door sometimes claim they are unable to speak English and won't allow inspectors to enter. The Planning Department will try to include Chinese-language translators on its inspection teams, the report said.
In addition, child welfare investigators will look for signs of child abuse and neglect, such as newborns crowded into makeshift nurseries, said Neil Zanville, a spokesman for the county Department of Children and Family Services.
"We'd not only ask about sleeping arrangements, we'd ask, has this baby been seen by a doctor? Has it had its shots?" Zanville said.
The county has received 60 complaints about such facilities in the past month, according to a report by the Planning Department submitted to the Board of Supervisors, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.
That compared to just 15 complaints in the previous five years. The surge might be due to publicity over the closure of a house in Chino Hills that authorities contended had been used to house as many as 30 Chinese women.
It isn't illegal for foreign citizens to give birth in the U.S., but authorities say the maternity tourism hotels frequently are remodeled single-family homes in areas that aren't zoned for hotels or boarding houses.
County Supervisor Don Knabe wants to develop a county law that would specifically outlaw such facilities.
"They're a moneymaking machine. They're totally unsafe," Knabe said. "It's so obvious that they jeopardize not only the health of the baby, but the mother as well."
The Planning Commission report said efforts were being made to crack down on the hotels for zoning, building and health code violations.
Pregnant women, many from Asia, can pay thousands of dollars to stay in the facilities, authorities said.
Officials who went to the Chino Hills home in November said the single-family home had been divided into 17 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms. Neighbors complained of a sewage spill from an overloaded septic tank.
The house was shut down after the city sued the owners.
Elsewhere, joint inspections have been staged by the planning, public works and child welfare departments, and cases have been referred to the state tax board, the report said.
Inspections can be difficult because people answering the door sometimes claim they are unable to speak English and won't allow inspectors to enter. The Planning Department will try to include Chinese-language translators on its inspection teams, the report said.
In addition, child welfare investigators will look for signs of child abuse and neglect, such as newborns crowded into makeshift nurseries, said Neil Zanville, a spokesman for the county Department of Children and Family Services.
"We'd not only ask about sleeping arrangements, we'd ask, has this baby been seen by a doctor? Has it had its shots?" Zanville said.
Dear Democratic Party Liberal Idealogues:
"No such thing as anchor babies!" said Nancy Pelosi during the 2008 Presidential campaign. "This is just a Conservative myth!"
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Okie-dokie, Dems. And there are never any mothers ever who opt out of working for a living so they can raise their kids on welfare. We all know that happens, just like 'anchor babies' happen. No, it's not to the extent that Jerry Falwell and Newt Gingrich say they do, but they DO happen.
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Look, I'm a political moderate. I really think that if we could somehow get rid of the Grover Norquists and other BS political theorists in both parties that both we and government would be a lot better off. But sometimes there is more to an issue a sound bite catchphrase, 'anchor baby' vis a vis immigration reform just being one of them.
I still think if the child was to have to be of the same citizenship as the parents and especially if the parents are illegal it would put a stop to alot of this. That's part of the reason we have so many children in this country who are citizens and they have illegal parents who have in some cases been deported and the child left behind. The child having an American citizenship doesn't change the fact that the parents are still illegal.
The Feds will sue to have this enforcement stopped calling, it discrimination against potential Democratic voters.
@lmdk2 You need to research Obama's immigration policy and enforcement. He has deported more illegals than the last 3 presidents combined. Look at the number of border security since he took office.
Please turn off FOX and come back to reality. Just today, they were questioning Clinton's injury-really?
This is what happens when you announce amnesty for illegals. Don't think for one minute this isn't happening everywhere in the U.S.
The solution is simple. Revise the 14th amendment to read "Any child born in the United States shall have the nationality of the mother.
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Anchor baby problem solved.
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Lincoln pushed the 14th amendment to insure that the slaves would have citizenship. There are no living slaves, so the issue is moot.
@Glassman Simple, revise the 2nd amendment "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
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Jefferson and the founder's reason for the 2nd was the lack of a standing army. Now we have a standing army so the issue is moot.
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This is my entry into the "who can have the dumbest comment of the day" contest.
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With the many uneducated people in the area of US history, I will win.
Maybe Senator McCain can "reach across the aisle" to enact legislation (or help get the ball rolling on a Constitutional Amendment) to rectify this, no? I am sure he is owed many, MANY favors for his "collaboration(s)" with Those Blue Guys.
CA is struggling financial why???
 @aintno1special The same reason the other are.Â
 @Seahawker I would agree to a point. Some of the ideas I hear out of CA boggles my mind.
 @aintno1special others
It isn't illegal for foreign citizens to give birth in the U.S.,Â
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It should be!! What's wrong with our Country??????? This is just another reason our Country is becoming a big  Cespool !Â
@Seahawker Really? 11.1 million illegals in the US. 312 million US citizens. So, 3.5% makes our country a cesspool!
That statement is an insult to all americans.
I do agree LA county should shut down these establishment who provide services those whoes sole perpose is to have baby to gain citizenship.
Most crimes are not committed by illegals simply because they don'e want to bring attention to them selves. You have taken note that all mass killing were at the hands of white US citizens. 98% of drug dealing across borders involve both US citizens and part time illegals. Â
You get those white rich kids to give up thier drugs habits, that may help dry up the market.
The drug dealers in our communities are not illegals.
So, yell me again why we are a cesspool. I believe we are the greatest country on earth, but maybe that's just me, a proud American and yes, a US citizen by birth and my ancestors since the 1540s.
Reap what you sow....
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Despite federal law (the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996) requiring local government to cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security, the following cities in Los Angles county have chosen to not cooperate and have become sanctuary cities.
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Bell Gardens City of Industry City of Commerce Downey Lakewood Los Angeles Long Beach Lynwood Maywood Montebello Norwalk Paramount Pico Rivera South Gate Vernon
 @al_wa Don't forget Seattle.