Woman Sentenced for Helping Chinese Moms Give Birth in U. S.

Trying to help someone and ending up in jail. That's what happened to Phoebe Dong. She and her husband ran a business, USA Happy Baby, that helped pregnant Chinese women travel to the U. S. to have their babies. The idea was that these babies would automatically become American citizens. A judge in California sentenced Phoebe to more than three years in prison for this. The court said she helped over 100 women trick U. S. customs officials. The women would wear loose clothes and fly into airports known for being easier on travelers. Phoebe told the court that she wanted to help because she grew up in China under the strict "one-child" policy and saw how tough it was. She said she felt hopeful after having her own kids in the U. S. and wanted to help others. Her lawyer said she plans to appeal the sentence.