PolitiFact.com
The article:

Do many illegal immigrants deliver 'anchor babies'?

By Louis Jacobson
Published on Friday, August 6th, 2010 at 4:34 p.m.

Related rulings:

Half-True
"People come here to have babies. They come here to drop a child. It's called 'drop and leave."

Lindsey Graham, Wednesday, July 28th, 2010.

Ruling: Half-True | Details

Share this article:

In an appearance on the Fox News Channel, Sen. Lindsey Graham said many illegal immigrants come to the United States to "drop" babies and leave.

In an appearance on the Fox News Channel, Sen. Lindsey Graham said many illegal immigrants come to the United States to "drop" babies and leave.

It sounds like an ingenious way for illegal immigrants to get a foothold in the United States: Pregnant women from Mexico and other countries can come to the U.S. to deliver their babies. Voila! Under the 14th Amendment, the babies are instant citizens!

That's become a popular talking point for critics of illegal immigration, who have dubbed the children "anchor babies." The implication often is that the baby U.S. citizens act as an anchor that that helps parents and other relatives obtain citizenship.

We checked a claim from Sen. Lindsey Graham and found the problem isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Advertisement
About this article:

Sources:

See Truth-O-Meter item.

Researchers: Louis Jacobson

How to contact us:

We want to hear your suggestions and comments.

For tips or comments on our Obameter and our GOP-Pledge-O-Meter promise databases, please e-mail the Obameter. If you are commenting on a specific promise, please include the wording of the promise.

For comments about our Truth-O-Meter or Flip-O-Meter items, please e-mail the Truth-O-Meter. We’re especially interested in seeing any chain e-mails you receive that you would like us to check out. If you send us a comment, we'll assume you don't mind us publishing it unless you tell us otherwise.

Browse the The Truth-O-MeterTM:
Subscribe:

Keep up to date with Politifact: