Podcast Summary

American Thought Leaders – The Epoch Times

Episode: CCP Exploiting Birth Tourism in America on an ‘Industrial’ Scale | Peter Schweizer

Date: February 4, 2026
Guest: Peter Schweizer (Investigative Journalist, Author of "The Invisible Coup")
Host: Jania Kelik

Episode Overview

This episode features a probing conversation with investigative journalist Peter Schweizer about “weaponized migration,” with a primary focus on how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) exploits U.S. birthright citizenship through large-scale birth tourism. Schweizer elucidates the national security, social, and political implications of these tactics, comparing them with historical and ongoing abuses by Mexico and other nations. The discussion is rooted in insights from his latest book, "The Invisible Coup," and explores the complex motivations behind foreign actors using migration not just as an economic benefit but as a tool of subversion against American society.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Weaponized Migration: Historical Template and Modern Usage

• Mariel Boatlift – A Case Study

  • The 1980 Mariel Boatlift from Cuba is discussed as the seminal example of "weaponized immigration" (01:41–03:50).
  • Fidel Castro used the exodus to insert psychiatric patients, criminals, and intelligence officers among legitimate refugees.
  • U.S. government studies rank Mariel Boatlift alongside 9/11 and Pearl Harbor in terms of impact, arguing that migration weaponization is hard to counter since there is no battlefield or clear enemy.
  • Quote (03:18):
    “Fidel Castro responded by saying, ‘We’re going to fill their arms with excrement.’ He used a stronger word than that. So this was weaponized immigration.” – Peter Schweizer

• Changing Nature of Immigration

  • Transition from individual, assimilation-minded migration to mass, state-manipulated flows (04:36–08:28).
  • Foreign actors (e.g., Mexican, Chinese governments) actively discourage assimilation and prize large migration for strategic reasons:
    • To transform U.S. society
    • To retain loyalty and soft power
  • U.S.-based progressive activists are complicit, seeing migration as a transformative political tool.
  • Quote (07:04):
    “They favor mass immigration. Why? Because they see it as having a transformative effect on American society. It’s the way to kind of remake society in the vision that they want.” – Peter Schweizer

2. Mexico’s Strategic View of Migration

• Political Leverage and Cross-Border Influence
  • Mexico views its diaspora in the U.S. as a “strategic resource” (09:37–11:39).
  • Mexican politicians openly declare ambitions to influence U.S. states and reclaim a sense of sovereignty, even having U.S.-based representatives in Mexican government.
  • Mexican consulates—53 in the U.S., compared to 6–7 from China or the U.K.—are actively involved in domestic U.S. politics, supporting political campaigns and organizing protests.
  • Memorable Moment (11:32):
    “In the Mexican Senate and in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies... you have representatives that live in the United States, and their job is to represent Mexican Americans... before the Mexican government. That’s a massive intrusion in our sovereignty.” – Peter Schweizer

3. Weaponized Migration from China and the CCP

• Birth Tourism on an Industrial Scale

  • Chinese birth tourism is organized, large-scale, and state-endorsed (21:38–28:42).
  • CCP-run media openly encourages affluent Chinese to secure U.S. citizenship for their children via birthright citizenship.
  • Companies such as "UN USA" facilitate the entire process, openly advertising to Chinese elites, military officers, and intelligence officials.
  • Conservative estimates suggest 50,000–100,000 Chinese children born annually in the U.S. under these schemes over the past 13 years—leading to a potential population of 1 million U.S.-citizen “anchor babies” raised in China by 2030.
  • Quote (21:38):
    “The Chinese government, the ccp, is using birth tourism on an industrial scale... You have anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 Chinese nationals a year doing this for 13 years. Not to even mention the issue of surrogacy. They're gonna be voting in our elections.” – Peter Schweizer
  • U.S. government does not track this due to a lack of parental nationality data on birth certificates.

• Exploitation of U.S. Legal Loopholes

  • CCP exploits not just birthright citizenship but also U.S.-owned surrogacy, and weak visa laws in places like Saipan (U.S. territory with laxer rules) (31:49–33:49).
  • Manchurian Generation: The term Schweizer uses to describe this large cohort of U.S. citizens raised with CCP allegiance who could return as voters, government employees, or political donors.
  • The security and political implications are profound: even “small” populations of strategically-placed voters could swing tight U.S. elections.

4. Other Tactics and Vulnerabilities

• Training Chinese Pilots in America

  • Thousands of Chinese nationals, many destined for PLA roles, receive basic flight training at U.S. flight schools (35:42–38:53).
  • After 9/11, the U.S. clamped down on flights for Middle Eastern nationals but missed this vector for Chinese military training.
  • Memorable Moment (36:23):
    “We are training thousands of pilots in the United States from China, many of whom are going to be flying for the PLA. That, to me, was shocking because when you go on the website of these flight schools, you see 90, 95% of the students there are Chinese nationals.” – Peter Schweizer

• Surrogacy, Organ Harvesting, and Exploitation of U.S. Openness

  • Disturbingly, surrogacy scams using American mothers are also being exploited for citizenship purposes, and possibly more.
  • Kelik and Schweizer connect this back to broader systemic abuses by the CCP, including forced organ harvesting, highlighting the regime’s industrial-scale approach to human exploitation (40:25–41:39).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mass Migration as a Tool

  • “The migration we’re dealing with today is weaponized. It's very different than 50 and 100 years ago.” – Peter Schweizer (07:18)

• On Mexico’s Political Interference

  • “Mexico has 53 consulates... and these consulates, there’s a lot of evidence, are getting involved in American domestic politics.” – Peter Schweizer (11:40)

• On the CCP’s Birth Tourism Policy

  • “China began running articles in the People’s Daily... about how you have a right to do this. They’re telling Chinese elites you have a right to go to the United States. The 14th Amendment is going to make sure that your child will be a U.S. citizen.” – Peter Schweizer (28:08)

• Broader Implications

  • “The challenge... is how do we maintain this important part of our history of allowing immigration but vetting who is coming into the country? And that’s not an easy thing to solve, but it begins with awareness.” – Peter Schweizer (19:37)

• On National Security Ramifications

  • “We’re looking at, beginning in 2030, a wave of what, according to Chinese estimates, is going to be 1 million citizens... US Citizens who have been raised in China... They’re going to be voting in our elections.” – Peter Schweizer (33:30)

Timestamps for Significant Segments

• Origin of Weaponized Migration: 01:09–03:57
• Assimilation vs. Manipulation: 04:31–08:28
• Foreign Actors’ Open Declaration of Strategy: 09:13–11:39
• Chinese and Mexican Political Interference: 11:39–15:18
• CCP’s Infiltration via U.S. Border: 15:18–17:27
• Intentional Surge Policies by Mexico & Nicaragua: 17:27–19:11
• Birth Tourism – Data and Tactics: 21:38–28:42
• Surrogacy Loophole: 26:43–27:59
• Saipan and Territorial Loopholes: 31:49–33:49
• Training Chinese Military Pilots: 35:42–38:53

Tone and Language

The conversation is urgent, direct, and investigative, balancing detailed exposes with reflection on the deeper forces at work and the intended and unintended consequences of U.S. policies. Schweizer and Kelik maintain a serious, facts-driven, and at times incredulous tone as they process the scale and audacity of these programs.

Conclusion

Peter Schweizer’s central warning:
The U.S. is facing a sophisticated, multi-vector campaign of “weaponized migration,” with the CCP’s industrial-scale birth tourism and related strategies forming a “civilizational war” effort designed to subvert American sovereignty and security from within. The solution, he urges, begins with awareness, followed by targeted policy changes. Both host and guest stress that the openness and generosity of the American experiment are being systematically manipulated, and only a proactive, clear-eyed public response can contain the threat.

Recommended for listeners interested in national security, immigration policy, and U.S.-China relations.