Loaded term ‘anchor baby’ conceals complex issues

Bush gave the term another twist last week when he defended its use, then said, “Frankly, it’s more related to Asian people.”

The impulses driving immigrants to have children in the United States vary widely, as do the economic circumstances of those who drop “anchors.”

While some have children in the U.S. to gain economic advantages, Southern California has seen a boom in so-called maternity tourism, often involving well-to-do pregnant women from Asia who are in the United States legally.

Last year, federal agents targeted three Southern California businesses that helped pregnant Chinese women travel to the U.S., usually on tourist visas, so their children could be born U.S. citizens. Read more.