A couple from China, Guojun Xuan and Sylvia Zhang, is facing serious accusations of hoarding and mistreating at least 26 children in their California home. Reports suggest that Xuan had aspirations for one of these children to become president of the United States, leading to what some are calling a population plan.
The couple allegedly took advantage of California’s loose surrogacy regulations by creating their own agency, Mark Surrogacy. They used Xuan’s sperm and an anonymous egg donor to gather a number of children. Employees at their mansion described the 65-year-old patriarch as a wealthy man intent on having many children, contrasting him with others who indulge in extravagant lifestyles.
Former staff recounted how Xuan appeared fixated on his dream of having a future president among his offspring. Interestingly, some of the children bore the names of well-known American politicians and international leaders. However, there’s a suggestion that this might stem from jealousy, as Xuan, being a foreign national, cannot run for president himself.
Chan, who is 38, has given birth to two of Xuan’s sons, but this wasn’t sufficient for him. The couple claimed to be a loving family seeking a sibling for their daughter as they established their surrogacy agency in a lavish mansion. This appeal drew in various women, each believing they were the only ones chosen to bear children for them.
Xuan holds legal rights to all the children since he is the only biological parent. However, it requires fulfilling specific prenatal legal steps before birth. California is a popular state for surrogacy due to its provisions for establishing parentage. Chan and Xuan, however, went further by creating their own agency to streamline their surrogacy process.
Despite commercial surrogacy being illegal or heavily regulated in many countries, the U.S. has minimal ongoing regulation. New York stands out as the only state that mandates a professional license to operate a surrogacy agency.
Prior to having Xuan’s sons, Chan had acted as his assistant in a surrogacy agreement from 2019. Once Mark Surrogacy was operational, Xuan’s role transitioned into that of a father, which didn’t sit well with all the surrogate mothers involved. One surrogate, Kayla Elliott from Texas, found out midway through her pregnancy that Xuan and Chan were having children with multiple other mothers, with 13 babies reportedly already in the making.
Elliott had her initial meeting with Xuan at the embryo transfer, where two agency staff members accompanied her. After the transfer was successful, Xuan gave her a jade bracelet, a symbol of family inclusion, a gesture repeated for each surrogate mother.
Throughout this ordeal, both Xuan and Chan have denied allegations of child trafficking. Their arrest in May 2025 stemmed from child abuse and neglect suspicions after an infant in their care was hospitalized with a serious injury. They are currently being held on bond as a state investigation continues.
Reports indicate that since the arrest, several more surrogate mothers have delivered babies in states like Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. The legal status of many of the children remains uncertain as custody battles unfold. The oldest child was 13 at the time of the arrest, while the youngest was just two months old.
In a twist, the couple has filed a lawsuit against two potential surrogates from Virginia who lost contact with them following the arrest. Meanwhile, troubling rumors suggest that they may have been birthing children for citizenship benefits and selling them, hinting at potential trafficking.
Former coordinators for Mark Surrogacy have voiced skepticism about accusations of human trafficking, arguing that the circumstances surrounding the children contradict such claims. A detailed article highlighted Xuan’s peculiar behavior, including carrying cards claiming he was a member of President Trump’s cabinet, although there’s no evidence of actual ties. A coordinator for Mark Surrogacy downplayed concerns, asserting that the couple simply desires a large family.
