Back by popular request...
Posted on 11/27/2005 10:45:11 AM PST by Dr. Marten
LEE COUNTY: "Anchor babies" are children born in the United States to parents who are illegal immigrants. The babies are automatically American citizens and get all the rights and financial help as any other American child. NBC2 discovers what rights these families have and why you're paying their bills.
"His name is Angel, because he's an Angel," said Angel's mother Raquel Angulo.
One-year-old Angel Angulo is American born.
"He was born here in Naples," said Angulo.
His grandparents came to the US from other countries legally.
"They had to go through a whole lot of stuff before they came here," said Angulo.
Babies born in the US whose parents came to the US illegally are often called anchor babies?/FONT> meaning they anchor the family in America.
But there's a misconception. Many people think anchor babies automatically give parents US citizenship, but that's not exactly the case.
Immigration attorney Sam Blanco says an anchor baby has to become an adult before helping their parents with US citizenship.
"For a child to petition a parent, they must be at least 21 years of age," said Blanco.
Unlike their parents, anchor babies can get free healthcare, like Medicaid.
"Medicaid is usually paid by the taxpayers," said Deb Millsap of the Collier County Health Department.
Last year, there were 16,281 Medicaid emergency alien deliveries in Florida. More than 1,737 of those babies were born in Southwest Florida.
According to North Collier Hospital, it costs around $900 for a one-day stay. If all 1,700 babies were born healthy and got the Medicaid Emergency Alien Fund, it could cost Southwest Florida taxpayers $1.5 million.
"It would be easily 10 to 20 times greater, the expense to taxpayers if we didn't spend money on prevention, healthy babies," said Millsap.
The children may end up working in Southwest Florida when they're adults.
"We need all those folks who come to our country, whether they pick tomatoes or whether they are cutting down limbs after Hurricane Wilma, we need these folks," said Millsap.
They may become immigration lawyers.
"I was not born in this country, I am also an immigrant. I was naturalized and became a citizen later in life. That's a reason I do what I do," said Blanco.
Having an anchor baby also gives the parents the right to apply for FEMA aid.
All joking aside, many immigrants and offspring of legal/illegal immigrants become immigration lawyers. Truly sickening
If you're an illegal alien Mexican you would like an immigration lawyer who speaks Spanish and has similar background. Not some white guy
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Support our Minutemen Patriots!
Be Ever Vigilant ~ Bump!
Back by popular request...
What a scam
It used to be that the US-born baby was sent with the parents when they were deported, free to return when he turned 18.
When did all this stop?
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