Los Angeles County authorities removed 21 children from a couple’s residence in Arcadia, California, after a child abuse report. The call came when a two-month-old baby was hospitalized with a traumatic head injury allegedly caused by a nanny. The couple, Silvia Zhang (38) and Guojun Xuan (65), reportedly had one or two biological children, while the rest were born via surrogacy. Many of the children—aged between 1 and 3—appeared to be housed in a setting resembling a school or daycare.
Zhang and Xuan ran a company called Mark Surrogacy Investment LLC, registered at the same property where they lived. The agency reportedly linked them with surrogates and operated without state oversight. Some women who served as surrogates said they were misled about the size of the family and the agency’s true purpose. One surrogate, Kayla Elliott, even launched a GoFundMe campaign to try to gain custody of her baby after discovering the child was not living with the couple.
Suspicions of Irregularities and Possible Criminal Implications
Legal experts in reproductive law have described the case as unprecedented, noting they are unaware of another example in which intended parents ran their own surrogacy agency. There is deep concern about the welfare of the children and the potential use of this network as a front for child trafficking or exploitation in the surrogacy industry.
The United States has no federal regulation on surrogacy; each state sets its own rules. California is considered one of the most surrogacy-friendly states, requiring notarized contracts and independent legal representation for both parties. However, there is no licensing or mandatory government oversight for agencies that connect surrogates with intended parents—creating space for abuse.
The case prompted the involvement of the FBI and child protection agencies to ensure the children’s safety and preserve sibling relationships wherever possible. The child welfare system now faces the challenge of placing the children in safe homes, ideally with relatives, which is complex given the large number of minors involved.
The incident has reignited calls from activists, legal experts, and child rights organizations for clear federal standards. Proposals include:
- Standardized, mandatory surrogacy contracts
- State or federal oversight of surrogacy agencies
- Comprehensive background checks on intended parents
- Transparency in processes and psychological support for all parties involved.
