A Chinese billionaire who has reportedly fathered more than 100 children through American surrogates is raising more concern about the limits of America’s birthright citizenship policy, and whether U.S. citizenship should effectively be purchased by way of a surrogate.
CBS News reported that a woman identified as “Judy” became a surrogate after seeing an Instagram advertisement promising $120,000. The single mother, who has a 7-year-old daughter, said she hoped the money would allow her to get a home of her own and “build a better life” for her family.
However, after she signed with surrogacy agency Patriot Conceptions, she learned that the intended father was a single man who had already hired a large number of surrogates. “I can’t be exact, but I know it was a large number,” she told CBS. “That’s a lot of kids at one time.”
The woman also said she’s repeatedly asked to meet Xu, at least five times now, and has been denied the request each time. “It leaves me wondering: do I even have a right to know?” Judy asked.
Leaked documents obtained by CBS identified the father as Xu Bo, a Chinese national and wealthy video game executive. Xu has been linked to more than 100 children born through U.S. surrogates, and a former business partner has claimed Xu has as many as 300 children.
Adding fuel to the shocking report, Xu recently posted a photograph on social media showing more than 100 young children seated in rows. Days later, he reportedly said in Chinese that he believes “more children bring more blessings” and that he hopes his words and actions will benefit “the long-term development of the Chinese nation.”
The children, since born on United States soil, are all citizens of America. Under the U.S. Supreme Court’s June interpretation of the 14th Amendment, virtually every child born on American soil is a U.S. citizen regardless of the parents’ immigration status, with narrow exceptions.
Critics say Xu is effectively purchasing U.S. citizenship by way of renting women’s bodies. He is drawing attention to the recent 14th Amendment interpretation. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), for example, reacted to the reports about the Chinese national by writing, “And some claim that this is what the 14th Amendment requires. Absurd!”
Florida lawmakers have notably moved to restrict surrogacy arrangements involving citizens or residents of countries deemed “countries of concern,” including China.
Related: How A Surrogacy Nightmare Exposed America’s Fractured Abortion Law Depravity
