Washington, Feb 27 (NationPress) Two prominent Republican senators have called on the US Department of Justice to conduct an inquiry into what they refer to as foreign-run surrogacy facilities taking advantage of American citizenship regulations, highlighting concerns that this activity presents a significant national security threat.

In a letter dated February 26 addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Senators Tom Cotton and Rick Scott urged the Department of Justice to “investigate surrogacy centers operated by foreign nationals”.

“We are requesting that the Department of Justice (DOJ) look into surrogacy centers run by foreign entities. Disturbing reports suggest that Chinese nationals are systematically taking advantage of America’s surrogacy and birthright citizenship laws,” the senators stated.

The lawmakers pointed to reports indicating that there are “over 107 Chinese-owned surrogacy agencies operating in Southern California alone.” According to their correspondence, these agencies “primarily serve affluent Chinese clients, with some linked to state-owned Chinese companies.”

The senators claimed that “Chinese nationals are compensating women residing in the United States over $50,000 to act as surrogates.” They elaborated: “The children are born on US soil and automatically receive citizenship. In many instances, the newborns are swiftly transported to China and raised there under the direct influence of the Chinese Communist Party.”

One example highlighted in the letter indicates that “a single wealthy Chinese individual has fathered over 100 American-born children through this method, explicitly aiming to produce male heirs who possess US passports.”

“These children will ultimately be eligible to participate in American elections, occupy sensitive roles, or advance Beijing’s objectives, all while being loyal to the CCP,” the senators remarked.

“This not only exploits our existing immigration and citizenship statutes but also raises profound questions about whether this represents a calculated, long-term strategy by a rival to ideologically and systematically weaken the United States. This practice constitutes a serious national security risk.”

Cotton and Scott urged the Justice Department to “initiate a comprehensive investigation into the issue” and requested written feedback by March 13.

They posed three specific inquiries, including whether the DOJ has identified any potential breaches of federal laws—such as immigration fraud, human trafficking, or foreign-agent registration mandates—by foreign-owned surrogacy firms or their clients.

The senators also inquired about the department’s estimation of “the total number of surrogacy clinics and agencies run by foreign nationals across the country” and how many are “owned or primarily managed by Chinese nationals.”

Surrogacy arrangements within the United States are primarily regulated by state law, and citizenship is granted under the 14th Amendment to those born on American soil. This practice has historically sparked political debates, particularly concerning “birthright citizenship” and its intersection with immigration policy.

In recent years, apprehensions regarding foreign influence and alleged exploitation of US legal structures have been prominent in congressional investigations regarding China, especially in relation to national security, technology, and higher education. The latest correspondence situates surrogacy and citizenship policy within this broader strategic discourse.