Thread: Irvine attorney in birth tourism case could face 40 years in prison

Originally Posted by vistalad

I hope that this is just a sign of impending general enforcement.

The 14th Amendment was not intended to convey citizenship to people who do not owe allegiance to the United States. That's why it reads, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."

If the writers of the 24th Amendment had intended to include, for example, birth tourists, there would have been no need to add "and subject to the jurisdiction thereof."

We can of course apply our laws to tourists. If necessary we can imprison and then deport them. But imprisoning them does not transform them into citizens, it merely makes them criminal aliens whom we will deport.
************************************
Americans first in this magnificent country

American jobs for American workers

Fair trade, not free trade

Exactly.

Birth tourism: Irvine attorney accused of helping Chinese mother try to flee the U.S. arraigned on obstruction of justice charges

June 22, 2015
Updated 1:49 p.m.

Attorney Ken Z. Liang is representing individuals who were served search warrants last week during a federal crackdown in Southern California on three birth tourism companies. Authorities have asked four of his clients to serve as material witnesses against the companies that police say aided pregnant Chinese women traveling to U.S. to give birth. The babies would automatically become American citizens., ANA VENEGAS, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

BY SEAN EMERY / STAFF WRITER

SANTA ANA – An Irvine attorney suspected of trying to help a witness in a federal birth tourism investigation flee the country pleaded not guilty Monday to obstruction of justice charges.

Ken Z. Liang, who is accused of accepting $6,000 from a witness who was trying to leave the United States against a court order, appeared for an arraignment Monday morning in the courtroom of federal Magistrate Judge Douglas M. McCormick. He is facing a federal indictment for obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

Liang, 38, was wearing a Santa Ana jail jumpsuit and shackles during his brief court appearance. His case was assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Guilford, with a tentative trial date of Aug. 4.

Liang represented several women caught up in a federal investigation targeting three Chinese companies suspected of providing trips to families who wanted their babies born in the United States. A raid earlier this year at a series of apartment complexes and homes across Southern California resulted in agents interviewing pregnant Chinese women and seizing computers and documents.

The operators of the companies have not been charged.

But 29 Chinese nationals – including pregnant women and family members – have been designated as material witnesses in the investigation. Ten have ignored court orders and fled the country.

One was stopped at LAX, attempting to get on a flight with her newborn son.

Federal prosecutors allege that in addition to taking the woman’s money, Liang is suspected of talking with her about how she could evade authorities.

Liang, who if convicted faces up to 40 years in prison, is being held without bail. A federal court judge previously dismissed arguments that Liang’s family would prevent him from fleeing the country himself.

After Monday’s hearing, Liang’s attorney, James Ridder, indicated he will petition the court for a bail review hearing.

Contact the writer: 714-834-3784 or semery@ocregister.com


Related Links

• Irvine attorney in birth tourism case indicted by federal jury, could face 40 years in prison
• No bail: Irvine attorney accused of helping a Chinese mother get back home held because of flight risk
• Irvine attorney in birth tourism case arrested, accused of accepting money to help material witness get back to China
• Birth tourism case hits new stage, with criminal complaints filed against Chinese citizens
• Woman in 'birth tourism' case arrested at LAX as she tries to fly back to China
• David Whiting: Is it time to change the 14th Amendment giving citizenship to those born here?
• Birth tourism: An Irvine company makes $2 million in 2013 enticing foreign women to give birth to hundreds of babies in O.C., feds say
• Prosecutors say 10 birth tourism witnesses flee to China, warrants issued
• Why do Chinese mothers look to Southern California, specifically Irvine, for birth tourism? It's more than just baby's U.S. citizenship

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/l...t-federal.html

The operators of the companies have not been charged.

But 29 Chinese nationals – including pregnant women and family members – have been designated as material witnesses in the investigation. Ten have ignored court orders and fled the country.

Really? Well, gee, I guess they've done nothing wrong, huh?

Iif the operators of the business did nothing wrong and their customers did nothing wrong, then how is their attorney guilty of anything in connection with the business and customers who did nothing wrong?

Judge OKs bail for Irvine attorney in birth tourism case

June 30, 2015
Updated 10:53 p.m.

BY ROXANA KOPETMAN / STAFF WRITER

Irvine attorney Ken Liang, jailed more than six weeks ago in a case related to a federal crackdown on birth tourism, will soon be out on bail.ANA VENEGAS, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Related stories
Bail debated for Irvine attorney accused of helping witness in 'birth tourism' case try to leave the country
Irvine attorney in birth tourism case indicted by federal jury, could face 40 years in prison
Birth tourism: Irvine attorney accused of helping Chinese mother try to flee the U.S. arraigned on obstruction of justice charges
Irvine attorney in birth tourism case arrested, accused of accepting money to help material witness get back to China
Birth tourism: An Irvine company makes $2 million in 2013 enticing foreign women to give birth to hundreds of babies in O.C., feds say


Irvine attorney Ken Liang, jailed more than six weeks ago in a case related to a federal crackdown on birth tourism, will soon be out on bail.

United States District Court Judge Andrew Guilford agreed Tuesday to release Liang on $900,000 bail that will include putting up his own Irvine home, as well as his father’s home, as collateral, according to Liang’s attorney, James Riddet.

Liang will likely be released from the Santa Ana Jail next Monday and will have to wear an ankle bracelet, Riddet said. Liang, arrested at his Irvine office May 18, has plead not guilty on charges of obstruction of justice.

Government officials accuse him of accepting $6,000 from a federal witness in a birth tourism investigation and offering to help her leave the country without permission. The witness was wearing a wire and the conversation was recorded, officials said.

But Riddet said the government’s indictment included misleading statements and painted an unfavorable picture of his client, who repeatedly told the witness that he didn’t want to break the law.

Another judge originally denied bail at the urging of federal prosecutors, who said that Liang posed a flight risk. Riddet noted that Liang has a life in Orange County – including a law practice, a wife and two young children.

“The idea that he was going to flee the country was absurd,” Riddet said.

Meanwhile, government officials have issued arrest warrants for Chinese nationals who fled the country after they were designated as material witnesses and ordered to stay in the United States. But there have been no charges against the three companies in the birth tourism industry initially targeted by government officials.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/l...t-tourism.html
Contact the writer: 714-796-7829 or rkopetman@ocregister.com


Related Links

• Bail debated for Irvine attorney accused of helping witness in 'birth tourism' case try to leave the country

two weeks of "being a good boy" to relax the vigilance, a plane ticket in a friends name. a sharp knife an hour before the red eye flight
out of the States, and there goes justice again in America!

We have truly built a system to favor American citizens. huh?

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9/18/15

http://www.alipac.us/f12/orange-coun...candal-323457/

2/9/16

BIRTH TOURISM CASE: Lawyer sentenced to prison for obstruction of justice