WALT SPECHT: Anchor babies weighing U.S. down

The 14th Amendment has been interpreted to allow citizenship to all born in the USA. This is where the term anchor baby comes from.

This has resulted in birth tourism, pregnant women coming to the U.S. on a tourist visa and giving birth while here to assure the child U.S. citizenship. In many cases, the cost of the birth is paid by the government or charitable organizations. Once born, the child is eligible for Medicaid, welfare, disability and supplemental income.

In California, there are on average 350,000 to 400,000 such births a year. It is estimated that 71 percent of the illegal immigrants on on some sort of welfare, compared to 39 percent of citizens, with those citizens including anchor babies.

Once these anchor babies reach 21, they can sponsor their parents to legally enter the U.S., hence the term anchor baby. It gives them a hook into legal citizenship. A recent article stated these combined birth tourists will end up costing the U.S. $6 billion total for all by their 18th birthday, all due to a well intended, but flawed, interpretation of the 14th.

The country as a whole needs to stand up and do what ever is necessary to stop this practice. We can no longer afford to be the father to the world. Any of these numbers or information are easily located with a Google search if you are interested in more information.

WALT SPECHT

Leesburg