That may be a recent change but I don't believe it is widespread.
Immigration attorneys can delay deportation of the mother until she qualifies for reunification even while her status in the USA is illegal.
Th problem for over a decade is illegal mothers having children that are at once given US citizenship, then enrolling them in WIC programs, medicaid, then preschool, food stamps, subsidized Sec. 8 housing, welfare TANF programs, then regular public school and so on.
What has happened is the emergence of an entire government unionized workforce in certain regions and districts to 'service' the illegals and their 'citizen' children.
Government employee unions have a vested interest in seeing that the anchor baby industry continue.
So it's more than just attempting to deport illegal mothers, it's also about cutting government.
I think cutting government is much harder to do. If Arnold Schwartzenegger gets his reform propositions passed, it should become easier.
Anyhow, thanks for the note.