There doesn't need to be legal status for the parent for the baby to be an anchor. Having the US citizen baby is an incentive to stay in the country illegally, even when you might otherwise head home.
The "anchor" can be an incentive, not legal status granted to the parent.
Bottom line is that the loophole needs closing, children of illegals should be illegal.
Also, and perhaps someone is a lawyer and can answer, what happens when an illegal is in a status hearing, and they have a US citizen child? Can they argue that deporting them—and they will take their child—is harm to a US citizen (the child)? Seems like a plausible lever in court to argue hardship for a US citizen who is a minor child. No idea if it gets used this way or if it is possible.
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