Shut down of illegal maternity ward elicits differing responses from lawmakers

[The Northerner]

SAN GABRIEL -- The discovery of an illegally-converted townhouse catering to Asian maternity tourists prompted local legislators on Wednesday to discuss the enforcement of immigration law.

But while state Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, R-Claremont urged changes to the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment, Rep. Judy Chu, D-El Monte, called for a comprehensive local approach to the problem.

"People can come here on a Visa and circumvent immigration laws ... what about those folks that wait in line?" Donnelly said. "It's really an issue of do we want to encourage behavior that undermines the rule of law?"

Donnelly suggested a change to the 14th Amendment, which says "All persons born or naturalized in the United States ... are citizens of the United States," could put a dent in maternity tourism, which takes advantage of gray areas in the law.

Two weeks ago, San Gabriel officials uncovered a makeshift maternity ward with 10 newborns and about 12 Chinese nationals crammed into an illegally-converted townhouse, according to documents obtained by this newspaper.

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