Birthtourism documentary

PBS is streaming a new documentary on birth tourism, How to Have An American Baby. It takes the view of Chinese mothers, leaving China for a better future by migrating to Southern California to give birth to children who will be US citizens. The practice, is not unlawful per se — most women have tourist visas that permit lawful entry, though entering under false pretenses is unlawful — but it has been politically controversial. The filmmaker, Leslie Tai, explains her purpose as exposing the American Dream that doesn’t come after 10-years being embedded with a group of mothers in Rowland Heights. She depicts the entire industry as false promises and scams: Chinese salesmen scamming pregnant women by hiking prices on tour packages, pregnant women being coached in US hotels on how to scam the hospitals into a longer stay, and wealthy or well-connected mothers taking advantage of their drivers in the US.

 The tw-hour film can be accessed from PBS here. The LA Times offers a review here.

MHC