More than 20 surrogate children taken into care after parents tricked birth mums
A couple who had 21 children via surrogacy have been accused of running a human trafficking ring.
Guojun Xuan, 65, and Silvia Zhang, 38, have been arrested for child endangerment after police found the children inside their £4 million California home.
They were first called to reports of a two-month-old baby suffering a traumatic head injury, but also found 15 children aged up to the age of 13-year-old.
Another six had been moved to other homes, with 17 of the 21 total children all aged under three.
The couple were thought to have employed a huge team of nannies and surrogates, because Silvia wanted a large family.
Nanny Chunmei Li, 56, was employed to help look after all the children, but was caught ‘verbally and physically’ abusing children, according to Arcadia Police.
Arcadia police Lt. Kollin Cieadlo said: ‘The discipline, both verbally and physical, was severe to the point where it supported the beliefs that child abuse was occurring inside the home.’
Neighbours were completely unaware of the large amount of children inside the home.
Michael Bui, who also lives on Camino Real Avenue, said tearing up: ‘It’s a horrible thing, I can’t believe it.
‘I don’t know what they did with the children. Did they send them to school? I don’t know why no one found out about the people who carried the children . Twenty-one children! What do you want to do with all of those children?
What are surrogacy laws in the UK vs the US?
In the UK, it is illegal to advertise that a person is looking for a surrogate or wanting to act as one.
It is also illegal for third parties, like agencies, to facilitate any arrangements.
Instead, there are just three main organisations allowed to help facilitate any surrogacy deals.
Many couples in the UK therefore look in their known circles to find a surrogate, including family members and friends.
For the US, the laws differ by state. But the US tends to guarantee the most legal protections to parents looking to pay for a surrogate.
There are a number of surrogacy agencies which help with arrangements, and in some states the surrogate does not have to be listed on the birth certificate.
But in the UK, the surrogate is automatically listed as the birth mother, and if she is married, her husband will be listed as the father.
Getting the intended parents on the birth certificate later is an extra step in the legal process.
‘I pass by here mostly every day, but I never see people go in and out. No, I never heard (any kids crying).
‘I feel horrible. But I say, “What goes around comes around.” People who are evil … the evil will go after them.’
A mailman said there was a man sat at the front of the house behind a desk who appeared to be a receptionist.
Xuan and Zhang have since been released, as having dozens of children through surrogacy is not illegal.
But the situation ‘smells of trafficking’ according to Kallie Fell from the Center of Bioethics and Culture.
Kayla Elliot, one of the surrogate mums for the couple, said ‘it’s damaging emotionally’ after finding out the child she carried was sent to live in the home.
She said the couple told her they had only one child, and she is now trying to get custody of her baby.
Kayla said: ‘These agencies, we’re supposed to trust them and follow their guidance and come to find out this whole thing was a scam, and the parents own the agency – that was not disclosed at all beforehand.’
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