LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County inspectors have cited 16 "maternity hotels" serving pregnant Asian women who stay until they give birth so their babies will be U.S. citizens.
The Los Angeles Times cites a report released Thursday that found the facilities didn't have major health violations, but said one in Rowland Heights and another in Hacienda Heights were cited for building and fire code violations.
The inspections were ordered by the county's Board of Supervisors in February after numerous public complaints following media reports of a busy maternity hotel in Chino Hills.
Birth tourism is permitted under immigration law as long as the mother has a valid tourist or business visa. But maternity hotels in the San Gabriel Valley east of LA typically operate out of single-family homes, in violation of zoning laws.
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