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every commentator who has actually addressed the issue has agreed with Barrett (who is a lexicographer, not a commentator) on this
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{{POV|date=August 2008}}'''Anchor baby''' (and '''jackpot baby''') are derogatory<ref name="weekinreview" /> terms used to refer to a child born in the [[United States]] to [[immigration to the United States|immigrants]] or other non-citizens, regardless of the immigration status of the parents.<ref name="doubletounge" /> The terms refer to the role of an immigrant's child, as a U.S. citizen, in facilitating [[chain migration]] under the provisions of the [[Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965]].
{{POV|date=August 2008}}'''Anchor baby''' (and '''jackpot baby''') are terms used to refer to a child born in the [[United States]] to [[immigration to the United States|immigrants]] or other non-citizens, regardless of the immigration status of the parents.<ref name="weekinreview" /><ref name="doubletounge" /> The terms refer to the role of an immigrant's child, as a U.S. citizen, in facilitating [[chain migration]] under the provisions of the [[Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965]].


The actual ability of the infant citizen to assist his immigrant parents in obtaining citizenship is very limited. Having a U.S. citizen child does not exempt immigrants from deportation if they entered or remained in the U.S. illegally. Once given deportation orders, the illegal immigrant parent either can abandon the infant to be adopted in the U.S. -- the immigrant thereby losing parental status -- or can take the infant home and petition for legal immigration from there. The infant citizen must turn 21 before he can file a petition on behalf of his parents. In most cases, a petitioned parent who entered illegally must leave the U.S. for 10 years to wait out a 10 year ban in addition to waiting until the child turns 21 <ref>[http://www.foreignborn.com/visas_imm/immigrant_visas/bring_other_family/3bringing_my_parents.htm Bringing Parents to Live in the US].</ref>{{Failed verification|date=August 2008}}<!--could not verify re 10 year period for illegal-entry parents-->
The actual ability of the infant citizen to assist his immigrant parents in obtaining citizenship is very limited. Having a U.S. citizen child does not exempt immigrants from deportation if they entered or remained in the U.S. illegally. Once given deportation orders, the illegal immigrant parent either can abandon the infant to be adopted in the U.S. -- the immigrant thereby losing parental status -- or can take the infant home and petition for legal immigration from there. The infant citizen must turn 21 before he can file a petition on behalf of his parents. In most cases, a petitioned parent who entered illegally must leave the U.S. for 10 years to wait out a 10 year ban in addition to waiting until the child turns 21 <ref>[http://www.foreignborn.com/visas_imm/immigrant_visas/bring_other_family/3bringing_my_parents.htm Bringing Parents to Live in the US].</ref>{{Failed verification|date=August 2008}}<!--could not verify re 10 year period for illegal-entry parents-->

Revision as of 23:11, 14 August 2008

Anchor baby (and jackpot baby) are terms used to refer to a child born in the United States to immigrants or other non-citizens, regardless of the immigration status of the parents.[1][2] The terms refer to the role of an immigrant's child, as a U.S. citizen, in facilitating chain migration under the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.

The actual ability of the infant citizen to assist his immigrant parents in obtaining citizenship is very limited. Having a U.S. citizen child does not exempt immigrants from deportation if they entered or remained in the U.S. illegally. Once given deportation orders, the illegal immigrant parent either can abandon the infant to be adopted in the U.S. -- the immigrant thereby losing parental status -- or can take the infant home and petition for legal immigration from there. The infant citizen must turn 21 before he can file a petition on behalf of his parents. In most cases, a petitioned parent who entered illegally must leave the U.S. for 10 years to wait out a 10 year ban in addition to waiting until the child turns 21 [3][failed verification]

This is often considered a derogatory term.[citation needed] These terms have been characterized in the San Diego Union-Tribune as "pejorative,"[4] in the New York Times as "derogatory",[1] and in the Chicago Tribune as dehumanizing.[5]

Usage

According to the award-winning web site Double-Tongued Dictionary, the term is applied to U.S. born children of all immigrants, regardless of immigration status.[2] American lexicographer Grant Barrett explains:

Those who use this term tend to be opposed to *all* immigration and immigrants, not illegal immigration, especially those who use their immigration stance as a mask for racism and xenophobia.[2]

The term has also been applied to Mexican Americans and other Latinos in general, even if their parents are U.S. citizens. For example, Ruben Navarrette Jr., a Mexican American columnist and editorial board member of The San Diego Union-Tribune and nationally syndicated columnist with the Washington Post Writers Group, reported being called an "anchor baby" in a 2007 column of his, titled Hate in the Immigration Debate":[6]

And, as I travel the country speaking to Hispanic groups, one thing I hear is that “anti-immigrant” rapidly morphed into “anti-Hispanic” and specifically “anti-Mexican.”

I get evidence of that every day in my e-mail. Just last week, after I defended the prosecution of two Border Patrol agents, a reader called me a “dirty Latino” who needs to get “back to Mexico.” Another writer called me an “anchor baby” – the term used by nativists to describe the children of illegal immigrants born in the United States.

Never mind that I was born in the United States and my parents were born in the United States. What I see here is racism.

Controversies

On August 17, 2006, Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn used the term "anchor baby" in reference to Saul Arellano, in a column critical of his mother, who had been given sanctuary at a Chicago church, and advocating her arrest and deportation on immigration related charges.[7] After receiving two complaints, the next day Eric Zorn stated in his defense in his Chicago Tribune blog that the term had appeared in newspaper stories since 1997, "usually softened by quotations as in my column", and stated that he regretted having used the term in his column and promised not to use it again in the future.

On August 23, 2007, the San Diego, California-area North County Times came under criticism from one of its own former columnists, Raoul Lowery Contreras, in a column titled "'Anchor babies' is hate speech", for allowing the term "anchor baby" to be printed in letters and opinion pieces.[8]

Birthright citizenship

Main article: Birthright citizenship in the United States of America

The Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution states,

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.

Jacob M. Howard, the Senator from Michigan who introduced the Citizenship Clause to the Senate for vote, stated in debate in Congress in 1866 that "persons born in the United States who are foreigners, aliens, who belong to the families of ambassadors, or foreign ministers accredited to the Government of the United States" would not be considered U.S. citizens despite their having been born in the U.S.[9] (the debate arose from fear by some, such as Senator Cowan from Pennsylvania, that the clause was too permissive as to who could be a citizen (by including Gypsies and Chinese) - Howard's statement defended the clause against such concerns)

While the Supreme Court has never explicitly ruled on whether children born in the United States to illegal immigrant parents are entitled to birthright citizenship via the Fourteenth Amendment,[10], it has generally been assumed that they are.[11]

Elk v. Wilkins

The Supreme Court ruled in Elk v. Wilkins[12], 112 U.S. 94 (1884) that being born in United States territory is not sufficient for citizenship.

United States v. Wong Kim Ark

In the case of United States v. Wong Kim Ark[13], 169 U.S. 649 (1898), the Supreme Court ruled that a person who

  • is born in the United States
  • of parents who, at the time of his birth, are subjects of a foreign power
  • whose parents have a permanent domicile and residence in the United States
  • whose parents are there carrying on business and are not employed in any diplomatic or official capacity of the foreign power to which they are subject

becomes, at the time of his birth, a citizen of the United States, by virtue of the first clause of the 14th amendment of the Constitution.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "BUZZWORDS; GLOSSARY" December 24, 2006 - By Grant Barrett - Week in Review New York Times anchor baby: a derogatory term for a child born in the United States to an immigrant. Since these children qualify as American citizens, they can later act as a sponsor for other family members.
  2. ^ a b c Double Tounged Dictionary Anchor baby: n. a child born of an immigrant in the United States, said to be a device by which a family can find legal foothold in the US, since those children are automatically allowed to choose American citizenship. Also anchor child, a very young immigrant who will later sponsor citizenship for family members who are still abroad.
  3. ^ Bringing Parents to Live in the US.
  4. ^ San Diego Union-Tribune , "Immigration bill turned quiet voices into a roar"
  5. ^ Sinking 'Anchor Babies' August 18, 2006, Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune, "'They use it to spark resentment against immigrants,' Rivlin said of his ideological foes. 'They use it to make these children sound non-human.' To me, that's good enough reason to regret having used it and to decide not to use it in the future."
  6. ^ Hate in the Immigration Debate Ruben Navarrette Jr., July 29, 2007
  7. ^ Deportation Standoff Not helping Cause August 17, 2006, Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune,
  8. ^ "'Anchor babies' is hate speech", RAOUL LOWERY CONTRERAS, North County Times August 23, 2007
  9. ^ Congressional Globe, 39th Congress, 1st Session, p. 2980 (May 30, 1866).
  10. ^ The Heritage Foundation (2005). The Heritage Guide to the Constitution. Washington, DC: Heritage Foundation. pp. 385–386. ISBN 159698001X.
  11. ^ Erler, Edward J (2007). The Founders on Citizenship and Immigration: Principles and Challenges in America. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 67. ISBN 074255855X. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ Elk v. Wilkins, 112 U.S. 94, 5 S.Ct. 41, 28 L.Ed. 643 (1884)
  13. ^ FindLaw | Cases and Codes
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