Asian caucus leader slams Bush for ‘anchor babies’ remark

The leader of the caucus representing Asians in Congress is condemning Jeb Bush’s use of the term “anchor babies.”

Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), the chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said Tuesday that “[n]o matter which ethnic group you’re referring to, ‘anchor babies’ is a slur that stigmatizes children from birth.”

“All that is accomplished through talk of anchor-babies — be they from Latin America, Asia, Europe, or Africa — is to use xenophobic fears to further isolate immigrants. It’s time for our country to return to a substantive discussion on immigration,” Chu said in a statement.

{mosads}Bush defended his use of the term during a Monday trip to the U.S.-Mexico border and expanded upon his comments by saying the term is “more related to Asian people.”

“This is ludicrous for the [Hillary] Clinton campaign and others to suggest that somehow I am using a derogatory term,” the GOP presidential candidate said in McAllen, Texas.

“What I’m talking about is the specific case of fraud being committed where there’s organized efforts — frankly, it’s more related to Asian people — coming into our country, having children in that organized effort, taking advantage of that noble concept, which is birthright citizenship,” Bush said.

The former Florida governor has repeatedly dismissed criticism from Democrats and immigration activists that the “anchor babies” term is offensive.

“The immigrant experience, don’t give me a lecture about that. I am proudly married to a Mexican-American, my sons are Hispanic,” he said.

Debate over birthright citizenship has ignited in recent weeks after Donald Trump included a call for repealing birthright citizenship in his official immigration policy platform released this month.