# Why is the Government ignoring illegal immigration issues? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 26, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-government-ignoring-illegal-immigration-issues/626348 "2012-06-26T14:59:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-government-ignoring-illegal-immigration-issues/626348/141 "2012-07-03T23:15:38Z")
> [@dngnb8](#): > > The children are anchor babies. Born in America, educated here etc. They were born in the 60’s. Did they use their status as citizens to facilitate the immigration of other family members? 'Cos I was under the impression that was the meaning of the term. And it’s kinda pejorative for that reason. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-government-ignoring-illegal-immigration-issues/626348/142 "2012-07-03T23:41:49Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Did they use their status as citizens to facilitate the immigration of other family members? 'Cos I was under the impression that was the meaning of the term. And it’s kinda pejorative for that reason. Why would it be perjorative? If it’s how you immigrate legally, that’s how you immigrate legally. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2012, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-government-ignoring-illegal-immigration-issues/626348/143 "2012-07-04T12:11:39Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Why would it be perjorative? If it’s how you immigrate legally, that’s how you immigrate legally. > [@Wikipedia](#): > > “Anchor baby” is a **pejorative term** for a child born in the United States to immigrant parents, who, as an American citizen, supposedly can later facilitate immigration for relatives.[1][2][3][4] The term is generally used as a \*\*derogatory reference \*\*to the supposed role of the child, who automatically qualifies as an American citizen and can later act as a sponsor for other family members. > [@NY Times Buzzwords Glossary](#): > > anchor baby: a **derogatory term** for a child born in the United States to an immigrant. Since these children automatically qualify as American citizens, they can later act as a sponsor for other family members. > [@The American Heritage Dictionary](#): > > anchor baby > > n. > **Offensive** > Used as a **disparaging term** for a child born to a noncitizen mother in a country that grants automatic citizenship to children born on its soil, especially when the child’s birthplace is thought to have been chosen in order to improve the mother’s or other relatives’ chances of securing eventual citizenship. \*See also: \*shitloads of screaming Fox News headline crawls warning of the coming tidal wave of “anchor babies” that will destroy America and ensure a neverending political dynasty for the Democrat[sic] party (not necessarily in that order). I also seriously doubt your claim that the non-legal parents of legal “anchor babies” you allegedly work with are voting anywhere other than Univision phone polls. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-government-ignoring-illegal-immigration-issues/626348/144 "2012-07-04T13:57:03Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Why? (I am not anti-immigration, I just want to know why you say this). Because there is no line. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-government-ignoring-illegal-immigration-issues/626348.md?page=7)