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Woman is arrested for entering Saipan as a tourist in 2015, with intent to give birth
A woman was arrested on Monday after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations agents learned that she entered the CNMI in 2015 as a tourist from China, but the real intent was allegedly to give birth.
Lichan Lu was arrested for lying to a U.S. government agency and improper entry. She was taken before the U.S. District Court for the NMI Tuesday afternoon for her initial appearance.
In his affidavit in support of a criminal complaint, HSI special agent Michael D. Lansangan said that HSI Saipan personnel saw Lu at the Marina Heights II building in Puerto Rico last Monday. The agents confirmed that Lu, a citizen of China, entered the CNMI as a tourist under the CNMI-only conditional parole.
Lu allegedly admitted lying to Customs and Border Protection officials about her intention for visiting Saipan, saying she came for tourism when, in fact, she intended to overstay to give birth here.
Lansangan said he received a tip last Monday that one of two women at the Marina Heights II building had admitted to being present in the CNMI illegally.
Lansangan said he and an HSI task force officer approached the two women and learned that one has a valid immigration status, but one, identified as Lu, does not.
During their interview, Lansangan said that Lu had stated that she wanted to give birth here, as she could not have her baby in their country because her husband already has children. Lu said she was scared that she may be forced to have an abortion.
Lansangan said that Lu admitted during their interview that she lied to the immigration officer at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport and told the officer that she only came for travel/tourism.
Lu allegedly admitted that this was not true because she and her husband intended to stay on Saipan until she gave birth and could return to China.
The complaint did not mention about Lu’s delivery.
