Arizona's 'Anchor Baby' Bill Is Childish, Dumb

This week, Arizona lawmakers began debating a bill that would save them from the dreaded menace of anchor babies— “a ‘problem’ that exists largely in their fevered imaginations,” writes Leonard Pitts Jr. in the Detroit Free Press. These delusional lawmakers envision “armies of pregnant Mexican women waddling across the desert to give birth to infants” who can then bestow the glories of US citizenship upon their families.

Never mind that, under existing laws, these supposed anchor babies wouldn’t be able to sponsor anyone for citizenship until 21 years later—or that their parents would have to go home for 10 years before applying for citizenship themselves. Even if that weren’t true, this law would be “the very definition of political masturbation.” Arizona doesn’t define citizenship, the federal government does, and the law wouldn’t survive a single court challenge. This isn't a serious response to the immigration problem, it's “childish politics.” (More anchor babies stories.)