Seek shutdown of 'birth tourism' house

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LOS ANGELES, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Officials in a Los Angeles suburb have issued a cease-and-desist order against a property they suspect is being used for so-called birth tourism.

The order against a home on Woodglen Drive in Chino Hills alleges it is being used as a hotel in violation of city zoning laws, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

A website city officials suspect is associated with the property describes a full range of services for pregnant women from shopping trips to assistance in obtaining U.S. passports for their newborns.

The Chinese-language website Asiam Child advertises a 30-day stay at the Chino Hills facility, along with a month of prenatal care, for $10,500 to $11,500.

Federal immigration officials say there is no law prohibiting pregnant women from entering the United States.

However, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said obtaining a visa through fraud would be a crime.

So-called birth tourism appears to be an active but largely under-the-radar industry in Southern California, the Times said.