anchor baby
Immigration status child
Anchor baby is a disparaging term for a child born in the United States to immigrant parents, especially those without legal status.
The term implies the parents had the child strategically—as an "anchor" to secure residency or citizenship benefits, since U.S.-born children are citizens.
It appears mainly in anti-immigration rhetoric: Politicians complain about anchor babies draining resources.
Not officially recorded
- visaTravel authorization stamp
- borderOuter edge or limit
- deportationLegal expulsion from country
- chain migrationRelatives sponsoring immigrant kin
family reunification · sponsor · asylum · refugee · ICE · customs · entry · overstay
Term expressing disapproval
- slurInsulting group label
- derogatoryExpressing criticism or disrespect
- xenophobiaHatred of outsiders
- nativismPreference for native-born citizens
scapegoating · stereotype · discrimination · prejudice · dehumanizing · inflammatory · stigma · backlash
Entitlement from origin
- naturalizationLegal path to belonging
- nationalityLegal belonging to country
- dual citizenshipHolding two nationalities simultaneously
- passportGovernment-issued travel credential
green card · 14th Amendment · birthright citizenship · citizen · native-born · stateless · denizen · residency
Official enactment of statutes
- amendmentChange to official text
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- reformImprove by correcting faults
- bipartisanInvolving both major parties
proposal · repeal · loophole · enforcement · sanctuary · restriction · regulation · mandate
undocumented
Not officially recorded
- visaTravel authorization stamp
- borderOuter edge or limit
- deportationLegal expulsion from country
chain migration · family reunification · sponsor · asylum · refugee · ICE · customs · entry · overstay · alien
pejorative
Term expressing disapproval
- slurInsulting group label
- derogatoryExpressing criticism or disrespect
- xenophobiaHatred of outsiders
nativism · scapegoating · stereotype · discrimination · prejudice · dehumanizing · inflammatory · stigma · backlash · resentment
birthright
Entitlement from origin
- naturalizationLegal path to belonging
- nationalityLegal belonging to country
- dual citizenshipHolding two nationalities simultaneously
passport · green card · 14th Amendment · birthright citizenship · citizen · native-born · stateless · denizen · residency · domicile
legislation
Official enactment of statutes
- amendmentChange to official text
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- reformImprove by correcting faults
bipartisan · proposal · repeal · loophole · enforcement · sanctuary · restriction · regulation · mandate · executive order
- immigrationimmigrant, immigrants, visa, refugee, citizenship
- migrationmigration, immigrants, refugees, immigration, emigration
- bordersborder, boundary, border crossing, national borders, boundary line
- immigrant storiesimmigrant experience, immigration story, Ellis Island, green card, first generation
- foreignersforeigner, immigrant, immigrants, migrant, expats
anchor babynaturalized citizen
Foreign-born person granted membership
dreamer · green card holder · visa holder · undocumented immigrant
anchor babybirthright citizen
Person with nationality from birth
anchor, baby, anchors, anchored, anchoring, anchorage, babies, babyish, babyhood