Cotton, Scott to Bondi: Investigate Chinese owned Surrogacy Centers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
February 26, 2026

Cotton, Scott to Bondi: Investigate Chinese owned Surrogacy Centers

Washington, D.C. - Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida) today sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi urging an investigation into surrogacy centers operated by foreign nationals. Recent reports indicate Chinese nationals systematically exploiting America's surrogacy and birthright citizenship laws through CCP affiliated surrogacy agencies operating in the United States.

In part, the Senators wrote:

"Recent reports have uncovered more than 107 Chinese-owned surrogacy agencies operating in Southern California alone. These agencies cater almost exclusively to wealthy Chinese clients, and some are affiliated with Chinese state-owned entities. Chinese nationals pay women living in the United States more than $50,000 to serve as surrogates. The children are born on United States soil and granted automatic citizenship. And in most cases, the infants are promptly flown to China and raised there under the direct influence of the Chinese Communist Party."

Full text of the letter may be found here and below.

February 26, 2026

The Honorable Pam Bondi
Attorney General of the United States
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20530

Dear Attorney General Bondi:

We write requesting that the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigate surrogacy centers operated by foreign nationals. Alarming reports indicate that Chinese nationals are systematically exploiting America's surrogacy and birthright citizenship laws.

Recent reports have uncovered more than 107 Chinese-owned surrogacy agencies operating in Southern California alone. These agencies cater almost exclusively to wealthy Chinese clients, and some are affiliated with Chinese state-owned entities. Chinese nationals pay women living in the United States more than $50,000 to serve as surrogates. The children are born on United States soil and granted automatic citizenship. And in most cases, the infants are promptly flown to China and raised there under the direct influence of the Chinese Communist Party.

In one instance, a single Chinese billionaire has fathered more than 100 American-born children through this process, with the explicit goal of producing male heirs who hold U.S. passports. These children will eventually be eligible to vote in American elections, access sensitive positions, or otherwise advance Beijing's interests, all while owing their allegiance to the CCP. This not only exploits our current immigration and citizenship laws, but also raises serious concerns whether this is a deliberate, long-term strategy by an adversary to ideologically and systematically undermine the United States. This practice poses a serious national security risk.

We therefore request that the DOJ launch a full investigation into the matter. We also respectfully request written responses to the following questions no later than March 13, 2026:

1. Has the DOJ identified any potential violations of federal statutes-including but not limited to immigration fraud, human trafficking, or foreign-agent registration requirements-by foreign-owned surrogacy agencies or their clients?
2. What is the DOJ's current estimate of the total number of surrogacy clinics and agencies operated by foreign nationals nationwide?
3. Of those clinics and agencies, how many are owned or primarily controlled by Chinese nationals?

We look forward to working with you on this matter.

Sincerely,

Tom Cotton
United States Senator