'Maternity tourism' witness held after trying to board flight to China

‘Maternity tourism’ witness held after trying to board flight to China

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ICE agents from the Department of Homeland Security look into the window of an apartment in Rowland Heights while executing search warrants during the ongoing investigation of “birth tourism” centers. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Federal agents gather in the parking lot of a Rowland Heights apartment complex before serving warrants and and questioning several residents while investigating “birth tourism.” centers. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Federal agents walk away with evidence boxes after serving search warrants and questioning several residents at a Rowland Heights apartment complex while investigating “birth tourism” centers. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Federal agents execute search warrants and question several residents at a Rowland Heights apartment complex while investigating “birth tourism” centers. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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A federal agent looks through a disposable diaper box while authorities executied search warrants and questioned several residents at an apartment complex in Rowland Heights while investigating “birth tourism” centers. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

By Matt HamiltonStaff Writer

April 24, 2015 5 AM PT

A material witness in an ongoing federal probe of alleged “maternity tourism” operations in Southern California was arrested after she tried to leave the country, authorities said Thursday.

Ying Wu was arrested by special agents with the Department of Homeland Security on April 15 at Los Angeles International Airport after she, her infant and her husband were preparing to board a flight bound for Beijing, said Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles.

Wu, 31, appeared Friday before a federal judge, who released her on a $10,000 unsecured bond. Under the terms of her release, Wu must wear a GPS monitor and is confined to house arrest at an undisclosed location.

She has not been formally charged, Mrozek said. Her husband opted to remain in the U.S. with the child.

Last month, scores of federal agents raided properties connected to three alleged maternity tourism schemes, which typically bring Chinese women into the United States on tourist visas so their children will be born U.S. citizens.

Investigators searched apartment complexes in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties, hauling out boxes of documents, trash and diaper containers. Agents were looking specifically for indications of visa fraud and other evidence that could show women were coached to falsify documents and claim that they were visiting the U.S. as tourists.

No one has been charged in connection with the investigation, which is ongoing.

Wu is believed to have used the services of an Irvine-based company under investigation, officials said. She is among about two dozen witnesses designated for the government’s case.

Her attorney could not be reached for comment.

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