Toys `R' Us bows to public opinion over (illegal aleins's) baby debacle

taipeitimes. ^ | Monday, Jan 08, 2007, Page 1

[dennisw]

AP, NEW YORK Monday, Jan 08, 2007, Page 1 After coming under fire for denying a Chinese-American infant a US$25,000 prize in a New Year's baby contest because her mother was not a legal US resident, the Toys "R" Us Co said that it had reversed its decision.

The company said on Saturday evening that it would award each of the three babies in the grand prize pool of the "First Baby of the Year Sweepstakes" a US$25,000 savings bond. Toys "R" Us is the parent company of Babies "R" Us, which sponsored the contest.

Toys "R" Us, which opened its first store in China less than a month ago, changed its mind after Chinese-American advocates protested and the story was reported in ethnic newspapers and the New York Times among other media outlets.

"We love all babies," the company said in a written statement on Saturday. "Our sweepstakes was intended to welcome the first baby of 2007 and prepare for its future. We deeply regret that this sweepstakes became a point of controversy."

The prize was originally supposed to go to Yuki Lin, who was born at the stroke of midnight at New York Downtown Hospital, hospital officials said.

She won a random drawing with two other babies for the US$25,000 savings bond, Toys "R" Us spokeswoman Kathleen Waugh said.

The Wayne, New Jersey company had said it would go to the first American baby born this year.

Yuki was born a US citizen. But the company disqualified her because "the sweepstakes administrator was informed that the mother of the baby born at New York Downtown Hospital was not a legal resident of the United States," Waugh said.

Although promotional materials called for "all expectant New Year's mothers" to apply, Waugh said eligibility rules required babies' mothers to be legal residents.

Many sweepstakes have such requirements, Waugh added.

Attempts to reach Yuki's parents, Liu Yanzhu and Lin Han, 22, were unsuccessful on Saturday. Their immigration status was not clear.

The original prize was instead awarded to runner-up Jayden Swain, born 19 seconds after midnight at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Georgia.

Chinese-American advocates had complained that the toy company's decision smacks of second-class citizenship.

[Darkwolf377]

Wimps.

[onyx]

Good.

[dennisw]

Story Published: Jan 6, 2007 at 2:26 PM PST

Story Updated: Jan 6, 2007 at 5:39 PM PST

By Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - Toys ''R'' Us Inc. has come under fire for denying a Chinese-American infant a $25,000 savings bond prize in a contest for the New Year's first baby because the company said the girl's mother is not a legal U.S. Resident.

The company's decision - which came less than a month after it opened its first mainland China store, in Shanghai - has infuriated some Chinese-American advocates.

Yuki Lin was born at the stroke of midnight at New York Downtown Hospital, according to hospital officials. She won a random drawing held to break a tie with two other babies entered in the contest, Toys ''R'' Us spokeswoman Kathleen Waugh said.

The Wayne, N.J.-based company had said the prize would go to the first American baby born in 2007.
Although promotional materials called for ''all expectant New Year's mothers'' to apply for the contest, Waugh said eligibility rules required babies' mothers to be legal residents. Many sweepstakes have such requirements, Waugh said.

Although Yuki was born an American citizen, Waugh said the contest administrator was told that Yuki's mother ''was not a legal resident of the United States.''

Attempts to reach Yuki's parents, Yan Zhu Liu and Han Lin, 22, for comment were unsuccessful early Saturday. Their immigration status was not clear.

The prize went instead to runner-up Jayden Swain, born 19 seconds after midnight at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Ga. The third baby in the running was born in Bay Shore, N.Y., to a couple from El Salvador.

Some Chinese-American advocates say the company's decision smacks of second-class citizenship.
''People are just pretty much outraged,'' said John Wang, president of the New York-based Asian American Business Development Center.

Albert Wang, an attorney, has launched an e-mail campaign on the issue. ''She was deprived of $25,000 intended to be used for her college education because of who her parents are,'' he said.

Janet Keller, a grandmother of the winning baby, said revisiting the contest would be unfair.

''She was disqualified _ that should be it,'' Keller said. ''Don't go changing your mind now.''

[GretchenM]

Next round of this contest they need to put in a disclaimer: If you are in the United States illegally, your child will not be rewarded with a prize even if you win the contest.

[kinoxi]

The fourth place winner should be notified. The fine print (rules) is quite clear on eligibility requirements. The person who entered was not a citizen.

[ansel12]

That $25,000.00 is pretty trivial compared to the golden anchor they got, by getting their baby born here.

[skr]

Illegals don't have American citizenship, second class or not. So much for rules.

[Lurker]

Deport her. Deport her now.

L

[skr]

Should've said non-residents, not just illegals. Don't want to assume too much, in case the woman is here legally.

[pandoraou812]

Its the fine print on these contests. It may have been there... Who bothers to read it? I think the baby should have won, she is an American. Next time I bet they make it very clear that you have to be a legal citizen to enter. It should be on all contests too in my opinion.

[WorkingClassFilth]

The Wayne, New Jersey company had said it would go to the first American baby born this year.
This company lies and it's allegiance is to the till - not America. Buy your future needs elsewhere.

[Navy Patriot]

If T"R"U didn't see this coming they are a bunch of idiots.

The execs who muffed the construction of this contest should pony up from their own pocket, and deduct it from their taxes as an "educational expense".

[dennisw]

Its the fine print on these contests. It may have been there... Who bothers to read it? I think the baby should have won, she is an American. Next time I bet they make it very clear that you have to be a legal citizen to enter. It should be on all contests too in my opinion.

It was made clear though maybe not in Chinese
The pint is illegal aliens have no shame or guilt anymore. They'll claim a prize they don't qualify for and the Chinese-Americans here pressures Toy's R Us to give a Chinese illegal alien the money

Undoubtedly the $25,000 will be grabbed by the snakehead smugglers who got them in here

[freeangel]

I love loopholes where the citizens win!

[Arthalion]

$25k is a lot of money in China...in fact, since the average income in China is still only about $3000 a year, $25,000US is a small fortune. Hand her the check and ship her back to the Peoples Republic.

[montag813]

That $25,000.00 is pretty trivial compared to the golden anchor they got, by getting their baby born here.

Yep, and then the family will follow the "Asian model" of illegal infiltration: (1) Anchor baby, (2) Parental establishment, (3) Bring over all their 80-year old relatives to rape U.S. hospitals and die here

[pandoraou812]

Undoubtedly the $25,000 will be grabbed by the snakehead smugglers who got them in here

You are probably right. I hope the bond or money is placed where they can't touch it.

[ansel12]

"Yep, and then the family will follow the "Asian model" of illegal infiltration: (1) Anchor baby, (2) Parental establishment, (3) Bring over all their 80-year old relatives to rape U.S. hospitals and die here"




It is a great retirement country if you have no money and can get yourself inside our borders.

[dennisw]

Yep, and then the family will follow the "Asian model" of illegal infiltration: (1) Anchor baby, (2) Parental establishment, (3) Bring over all their 80-year old relatives to rape U.S. hospitals and die here

If they can get their parents over here legally they will get them on SSI disability, subsidized housing, Medicare/Medicaid as soon as possible Even though they have signed papers pledging not to let elderly parents become wards of the state.. Chinese and Russian immigrants are infamous for this. Others do it too

[taxesareforever]

Chinese-American advocates had complained that the toy company's decision smacks of second-class citizenship.

As far as I am concerned this mother's actions smacks of a dishonest and illegal citizenship. So be it. Take her toys away.

[endthematrix]

Is she illegal or just not a US citizen?

There is a difference.

[VeniVidiVici]

Some Chinese-American advocates say the company's decision smacks of second-class citizenship.

Wow! A logical conclustion based on the evidence. Those Chinese-Americans are smart folk!

[endthematrix]

I see that she was NOT a legal resident of the United States.

[SmartAZ]

So they caved. No guts, no glory.

[dayglored]

> I see that she was NOT a legal resident of the United States.

I'm still looking for a statement about whether she was an illegal alien, or merely a legal non-resident. Have you seen anything definitive?

[endthematrix]

In the article it states that she was not a legal resident. I'm assuming, it could be the reporting.

[endthematrix]

...assuming that means shes isn't on a visa, etc.

[garylmoore]

I'm all for keeping all the money you can out of the hands of the IRS, no matter who's money it is but I'm not advocating doing it illegially.

[Yaelle]

I would like us to look at the Constitution again and only allow people born in the United States whose mother was LEGALLY within our borders to become citizens. I believe that is what the founders intended.

[OBXWanderer]

Toys R Us bows to public opinion...

Nobody asked me...

[ReignOfError]

I see that she was NOT a legal resident of the United States.

So said Toys 'R' Us. The authors of the article said that their immigration status couldn't be determined.

Besides which, "not a legal resident" is not the same thing as "illegal alien" -- the parents could be here on a legal and valid work visa, tourist visa, student visa, awaiting a decision on an pending asylum or refugee application, or some other immigration status I'm not thinking of right now.

[endthematrix]

Have you seen my other posts on this?

[traditional1]

"Although Yuki was born an American citizen, Waugh said the contest administrator was told that Yuki's mother ''was not a legal resident of the United States.''

Why is it that most crimes committed include sentences that prevent the convicted criminal from profiting from the illegal act, yet we allow anchor babies (especially to Mexicans), where the ILLEGAL act of invading this country is "rewarded" with U.S. Citizenship for the anchor baby?

Has this approach ever been tried in Court, where the profiteering is prevented, aka, U.S. automatic citizenship?

If it has not been adjudicated, it ought to be pursued, IMHO.....

[raybbr]

Is she illegal or just not a US citizen? There is a difference.

Not any more. Our Govt. treats them all a little bit better than those of us who were born here of legal parents.

[ReignOfError]

Have you seen my other posts on this?

Yes, and I realize there's some overlap, but a key point is that we don't know from the article know whether the mother is a legal resident or not -- only that "Toys 'R' Us was told" she wasn't. The authors of the article couldn't verify her status independently.

[bimbo]

... and we only concentrate on the southern border when discussing illegals. Our seaports and airports are also porous sieves for hordes of Asians who seem to be competing with Hispanics to see which culture will overthrow America.

[lentulusgracchus]

Yours is the first post in which the light dawns, that it may be demographically significant, that the very first baby born in the U.S. this year was born to illegal Chinese aliens.

Thought I heard a bell tolling somewhere. Or is it just me?

These damned U.S. feminazis better crank up those precious uteri of theirs and get busy.

[Rutles4Ever]

As far as I am concerned this mother's actions smacks of a dishonest and illegal citizenship. So be it. Take her toys away.

Keeping emotion out of the debate, there are two facts:

1. Illegal immigration is not going away anytime soon.

2. We marginilize them at our peril.

3. The baby is not a criminal, but you're treating her like a second-class citizen by punishing her for something she has no control over.

4. The woman is here illegally. Her baby is here legally. We can either show compassion for the sake of the innocent baby, or cruelty for the sake of "justice". Which should we choose?

Post-script: I'm against illegal immigration, and I'm in favor of building a wall, but the government's uinwillingness to seal the border makes it difficult to justify punishing women and children for the sins of unmotivated, corrupt politicians. They're here, and they're going to keep coming here. We can make them pariahs, or we can make them Republicans. I think it's wiser to choose the latter.

[dennisw]

I doubt Toy R Us would deny the $25,000 to a legal immigrant. She is an illegal immigrant. She sure ain't claiming she is a legal resident or immigrant

[taxesareforever]

Post-script: I'm against illegal immigration, and I'm in favor of building a wall, but the government's uinwillingness to seal the border makes it difficult to justify punishing women and children for the sins of unmotivated, corrupt politicians.

Just because politicians continue to let illegal immigration happen does not mean that we, the masses, must accept it. On the contrary, the more uproar we make the more they will see their reelection or election in jeopardy. To say, "oh well, illegal immigration is going to happen so let's just accept it" is blind folly to the peril of this country.

[dennisw]

I'm pretty sure most/all state lotteries will payout to illegal aliens. Illegals bet on lotteries and no state wants to lose their purchases

[dennisw]

Babies "R" Us
1st Baby of the Year Sweepstakes
OFFICIAL RULES


NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. YOU HAVE NOT YET WON.
SPONSOR: Toys"R"Us Delaware, Inc., d/b/a Babies"R"Us, 1 Geoffrey Way, Wayne, NJ 07470.
ADMINISTRATOR: LeadDog Marketing Group, 159 W. 25th St., 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10001.
ELIGIBILITY: Sweepstakes only open to women who are pregnant and could plausibly give birth in a U.S. or D.C. hospital, at or after 12:00 am (local time in registrant time zone), on January 1, 2007 and who are legal residents of the 50 United States or Washington D.C. Additionally, U.S. hospitals and OB/GYN offices may enter on behalf of themselves, their obstetricians and their pregnant patients who are legal U.S. residents and who give birth in a registered U.S. hospital. For purposes of this Sweepstakes, "obstetrician" shall include obstetricians, certified midwives or family practitioners who perform the delivery in a registered hospital. Patient consent will be confirmed when winner(s) are determined. Entrants must have Internet access and a valid email address as of the start of the promotion.

----SNIP----

http://www.firstbabyoftheyear.com/rules.html

[Rakkasan1]

Oh well, rules are for those who obey the law.

I'm sure the ACLU will ride in to save the day.

[ReignOfError]

I'm pretty sure most/all state lotteries will payout to illegal aliens. Illegals bet on lotteries and no state wants to lose their purchases

And what, the state should welsh?

If you don't want to pay out lottery winnings to a class of people, figure out how not to sell them tickets. Otherwise, if you're an illegal alien, you should be congratulated for your win, paid and then deported. If you're a fugitive felon, you should be paid and imprisoned.

[dennisw]

You misunderstand me. I doubt any state lotteries prohibit payouts to illegal aliens. This baby contest did, not that I have anything against that

[paulat]

I wonder if the illegal aliens can spell better than your headline....