Do you think the phrases "illegal immigrant" and "anchor baby" are offensive?

[Only the Best]

There has been quite an uproar the past couple weeks over some of the GOP Presidential candidates using these phrases (especially "anchor baby"). Do you find them to be offensive? Should people say "undocumented immigrant" instead of "illegal immigrant"?

[Orange Joe]

There has been quite an uproar the past couple weeks over some of the GOP Presidential candidates using these phrases (especially "anchor baby"). Do you find them to be offensive? Should people say "undocumented immigrant" instead of "illegal immigrant"?

Why what is the difference?

[Arewn]

Nope. Illegal immigrant is a term which describes people who unlawfully immigrated, which is perfectly accurate.
Whether those laws should be changed or not is certainly up to debate, but I don't think there's anything wrong with the term "illegal immigrant".

[Puupi]

Why would illegal immigrant be offensive?

[Sforza]

No, both terms describe the issue accurately.

[Xisa]

There is backlash against the phrase "Illegal Immigrant" because it's legally difficult to argue for something that violates the law. Saying that word is no good is a way to change the conversation instead of dealing with the problem.

Anchor baby is a bit derogatory, though.

[DarkSoul]

Both terms accurately describe the individuals they're referring to.

As to whether there's anything wrong with either term, not only do I not think there's anything wrong with them, I don't care if anyone's offended by them. They're accurate descriptions. If someone's offended by being accurately described, then they need to change their description. Don't be here illegally and don't try for an anchor baby.

[Seranthor]

There has been quite an uproar the past couple weeks over some of the GOP Presidential candidates using these phrases (especially "anchor baby"). Do you find them to be offensive? Should people say "undocumented immigrant" instead of "illegal immigrant"?

I learned growing up to be truthful, and I also learned that the truth isn't always 'nice'. Neither are offensive, because they are both true.

[Endus]

A few things;

First, "illegal immigrant" isn't really a proper term, since it at least implies that their immigration itself was illegal. Many immigrated legally, but on temporary visas or such, and those expired and they never left. Their presence isn't authorized, but there's no civil or criminal punishment for unlawful presence; they're just deported to their home country. It's less of a legal infraction than jaywalking, if you want to get technical. This is also why "undocument immigrant" is slightly more technically correct. I don't think this is really that big a deal, though.

Second, "anchor baby" implies that their reason for having that child was to "anchor" them in the country, which is incredibly dismissive of their intention to build a family. Particularly since what they're doing is perfectly legal. Their child becomes a citizen on birth. This grants them no rights; the child can't appeal for their parents' presence until they're 21, I believe.

[wregelmann]

I learned growing up to be truthful, and I also learned that the truth isn't always 'nice'. Neither are offensive, because they are both true.

Dude, really? Those babies aren't literally anchors, so how is "anchor baby" true? That's like saying the 'N' word is okay because it refers to skin color and is true.

[Kaleredar]

Both terms aren't "untrue," but they're both examples of loaded language, used to sway the reader or listener into agreeing with whomever is using the words because they're often used in a pejorative way.

More examples:
"pro-choice" vs "abortion."
"put down" vs "killed"
"correctional facility" vs "child prison"
"capital punishment" vs "executed"

That people use certain words in a decidedly negative fashion (like "alien" in place of "immigrant") tells you exactly what you need to know about their level of discourse and what political or social stance they're trying to sell you.


Critical thinking, boys and girls.

[dokilar]

nope, sounds about right to me. if youre an immigrant in the US illegally, youre an illegal immigrant.

[Cthulhu 2020]

Not offensive, but they might become "offensive" in general speech since the GOP is using both terms condescendingly and derisively.

Most terms deemed offensive these days were at one point PC, and only became offensive when they were used condescendingly, derisively, and insultingly.

[vindicatorx]

Offensive to whom? I mean the only people I can see be offended are illegals and anchor babies. There is a large difference in being an immigrant and an illegal immigrant.

[TrumpIsPresident]

Not offensive, but they might become "offensive" in general speech since the GOP is using both terms condescendingly and derisively.

Then the term "White privilege" is offense because it it is used condescendingly and derisively.

Yes/no?

[Omega10]

The problem for the GOP is not whether its offensive or not, they clearly do not care. Except... that Hispanic voters that they might need next election DO care. The general consensus is that if 90% of Hispanics vote Democratic that the Republicans will lose in a landslide. The question for the GOP is: how much can they insult Hispanics, for the purpose of firing up their base, before they lose too many Hispanic votes.

[Cthulhu 2020]

Then the term "White privilege" is offense because it it is used condescendingly and derisively.

Yes/no?

You guys get extremely offended every time it's used, so I'd say so.

[Seranthor]

Dude, really? Those babies aren't literally anchors, so how is "anchor baby" true? That's like saying the 'N' word is okay because it refers to skin color and is true.

I get that you dont agree with me and that's just fine... not everything is racist... not everything can be compared to the 'n-word'... So save that line of garbage for someone else...

[Espe]

There has been quite an uproar the past couple weeks over some of the GOP Presidential candidates using these phrases (especially "anchor baby"). Do you find them to be offensive?

No more offensive than any of the other racist / sexist / homophobic dog whistles littered in any one of their speeches.

[Zantos]

Don't care. That's what they are. If their an immigrant who is here illegally, their are illegal immigrants. I don't care about their feelings one bit, as they don't care about our laws or our countries well being.