CHINO HILLS, Calif. (KABC) -- A controversy is growing in a Chino Hills neighborhood: A home has allegedly been turned into a so-called "maternity hotel," drawing pregnant Chinese women to stay and have their babies in America. Neighbors are trying to shut it down.
Residents say they are upset about a business venture operating in an upscale Chino Hills neighborhood. They plan to hold a protest in Chino Hills Saturday to send a message to the house's owner that his business is not welcome.
"I do believe they are taking advantage of a loophole that has been found. Because what I understand after doing my research and homework is that it is an epidemic and it's nationwide," said Chino Hills resident Rossana Mitchell.
They're called "maternity hotels." The seven-bedroom home is owned by Hai Yong Wu. His Chinese language website offers maternity packages ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. The home's address on the website corresponds to the Chino Hills address.
"They're selling U.S. citizenship. They're putting a price on it and they're bringing people over here specifically for that reason," said Chino Hills resident Sandy Hayden.
But it's not illegal. University of California-Riverside Professor Karphick Ramakrishnan says because of the 14th Amendment, children born in the U.S. are granted automatic citizenship.
"The U.S. could pass a law saying that they will not admit someone in the country if their intent is to have a child in the United States," said Ramakrishnan. "Right now there is no law that explicitly says that."
Citizenship isn't the only draw. The website details other advantages, such as access to free education and a path for the parents to becoming permanent U.S. residents when their child turns 21.
"It becomes personal, absolutely, they're taking advantage of this country and we want it to stop," said Chino Hills resident Edward Velazquez.
The city of Chino Hills is aware of the operation and has launched a code enforecment probe.
Last week- the city issued Wu a cease-and-desist order for allegedly operating a hotel in a residential neighborhood, which is illegal.
(Copyright ©2012 KABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) 2012-11-30
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奇諾岡美亞寶貝勒令歇業 孕婦產婦遷出
世界新聞網
December 02, 2012
據ABC7電視台報導，12月1日遭奇諾岡（Chino Hills）居民抗議的華人月子中心，已因違反住宅區禁止經營旅館規定遭勒令歇業。
ABC7電視台指認遭取締的月子中心為「美亞寶貝」（Asiam Child），並播出該中心網站網頁。該台指出，這幢山坡上的巨宅有七個房間，屋主為吳海勇（Hai Yong Wu，譯音），目前人在海外。
據瞭解，奇諾市政府因接到市民投訴，在感恩節當周已派人到月子中心突擊檢查，當即勒令歇業。十幾名孕婦和七名做月子的產婦因擔心再出包已遷出月子中心，另找安身之處。
ABC7電視台說，「美亞寶貝」網站宣稱「您的孩子年滿21歲，可為父母申請永久綠卡，無需等待配額」。還說「孩子可免費就讀美國公立小學至高中，未來上公立大學學費只需外國學生的10%」。又說，如在美國犯法，「作為美國公民，不會被驅逐出境」。以及「美國公民可以在美國政府的保護之下，即使航空封鎖，也可優先搭機離開」。
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奇諾岡民上街示威 嗆月子中心
華人月子中心在南加州社區如雨後春筍出現，來自中國的孕婦當街散步惹人側目，終於引發社區居民反彈。聖伯納汀諾縣奇諾岡（Chino Hills）市居民1日開了第一槍，70名民眾走上街頭舉牌拉布條抗議「非法營業」。
1日參加抗議的民眾多為十幾年老居民，發起團體為兩周前成立的「不要在奇諾岡」（Not In Chino Hills）。他們在交通繁忙的奇諾岡林蔭大道（Chino Hills Parkway ）和斐頓街（Peyton Avenue）十字路口紅綠燈號誌旁一字排開，兩小時抗議過程獲得過往車輛紛紛按喇叭聲援。
這些民眾的抗議目標是位於伍德格蘭路（Woodglen Drive）15250號的一幢山坡上豪宅。豪宅看來房間眾多，做為月子中心倒滿適合。不過抗議民眾並不認同，他們拉出的布條明白寫著「不要在奇諾岡，不要在任何地方」。一名抗議者表示，月子中心到處都是，但奇諾岡必須先站出來，替所有受影響社區發聲。
在奇諾岡住了16年的卡洛（Karol Arredondo）說，她經常看到大腹便便的中國婦女，結伴在月子中心山下公寓散步，而且每隔一段時間，就有遊覽車前來載這些準媽媽去迪士尼樂園和威尼斯灘（Venice Beach）等地遊覽。
內谷日報（Inland Valley Daily Bulletin）記者根據月子中心外牆的三個電話打進去詢問，結果對方一聽是記者立即掛電話。
