Visa Program Abused By China to Support Clinton, Dem Candidates: Book
A decades-old U.S. immigration visa program may have served as a conduit for foreign money flowing into Democratic political campaigns, particularly during the 1990s, according to investigative journalist Peter Schweizer’s book “The Invisible Coup: How American Elites and Foreign Powers Use Immigration as a Weapon.”
Schweizer’s reporting centers on the Employment-Based Fifth Preference, or EB-5, visa program—created by Congress in 1990 and marketed as a way to spur foreign investment and domestic job creation. Under the program, foreign nationals who invest at least $1.05 million, or $800,000 in designated high-unemployment areas, and create a minimum of 10 American jobs can obtain lawful permanent resident status.
According to Schweizer, the origins and early promotion of the EB-5 program intersected with individuals later implicated in major Democratic campaign finance scandals. The book highlights Maria Hsia and John Huang, both of whom were involved in Democratic fundraising during the 1996 election cycle that benefited then-President Bill Clinton. A Senate investigation later identified Hsia as an agent of the Chinese government who concealed her affiliations while organizing political donations, while Huang pleaded guilty in 1999 to conspiracy charges related to campaign finance violations.
The book also references James Riady, whose family’s business interests were tied to illegal campaign contributions during the same period. In the aftermath of those revelations, the Democratic Party returned more than $1 million in donations deemed improper.
Schweizer argues that the EB-5 program created a structural loophole in U.S. campaign finance law. While foreign nationals are barred from donating to American political campaigns, lawful permanent residents are not. According to the book, this allowed foreign investors—particularly from China—to gain legal status and subsequently make political contributions. One case cited is Danhong “Jean” Chen, a Chinese national and EB-5 visa broker whose business allegedly funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars into Democratic campaigns. Chen and her husband were later indicted on visa fraud and identity theft charges, and Chen reportedly fled the country before she could be arrested.
Schweizer further claims that a significant number of EB-5 investors originated from China and that some firms marketed the program by touting political connections and access to senior U.S. officials. He raises alarms about national security risks stemming from the scale of foreign capital involved and the opaque nature of some investments.
The book also revisits Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential primary campaign, during which she received a surge of donations from New York City’s Chinatown. Investigators later found that many donors resided in dilapidated buildings and appeared unlikely to have the personal wealth reflected in their political contributions. Subsequent inquiries revealed that some donors had received organized instructions from local associations to support Clinton.
Schweizer reports that several of those community groups had links to the United Front Work Department, a Chinese Communist Party entity tasked with advancing Beijing’s interests abroad.
Adding to concerns, Schweizer points to what he describes as a glaring inconsistency in Chinese financial policy. While Beijing officially limits citizens to transferring no more than $50,000 per year out of the country, EB-5 recruiting firms reportedly operate openly inside China despite investment thresholds far exceeding that cap. He also notes that the program has granted foreign nationals access to sensitive U.S. infrastructure projects, intensifying national security concerns.
According to Schweizer’s research, the EB-5 visa system—allegedly shaped by individuals with Chinese Communist Party ties—has provided Beijing with multiple pathways to inject untraceable political money into American elections over several decades.
Meanwhile, congressional scrutiny of Democratic power brokers intensified this week. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted Wednesday to advance two resolutions holding former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with subpoenas related to the ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal network and its political connections.
The move marks a significant escalation in the House’s probe and represents the first time Congress has moved toward contempt proceedings against a former president and a former cabinet official at the same time. Subpoenas issued on July 23, 2025, by the Oversight Committee’s Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee sought testimony from both Clintons regarding their past associations with Epstein.
Lawmakers say the depositions are critical to determining whether federal agencies failed to pursue leads connected to Epstein’s activities or his network of influential associates.