article_snippet: (CNN)Federal agents on Tuesday raided more than three dozen "maternity hotels" in Southern California where foreign women give birth, allegedly for the sole purpose of having a U.S.-citizen baby, authorities said.
article_snippet: The "maternity tourism" sites included apartment complexes in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties where authorities believe the businesses housed the foreign nationals about to give birth, federal officials said.
article_snippet: Blair alleged that the birthing houses "will generally advise foreign national clients to fly to tourism points of entry such as Hawaii or Las Vegas and to avoid traveling directly to Los Angeles International Airport.
article_snippet: This advice is due to heightened security by (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) officials at LAX based on the volume of fraudulent visas and false statements and entry documents that CPB officials have experienced over the last decade related to birth tourism.
article_snippet: One advertisement for a Hacienda Heights location "claims that the apartments are extremely suitable for expectant mothers and the apartments accompanying families," Blair said in court documents.
article_snippet: The apartment will allow expectant mothers to experience the American lifestyle during The apartment stay.
highlights_snippet: The "maternity tourism" sites are apartment complexes catering largely to pregnant women from China .