During an interview with radio host Bill Bennett last week, presidential hopeful Jeb Bush used the term
"anchor babies" in reference to the children of undocumented immigrants
who come to the United States to establish residency by giving birth.
After public outcry, deeming the comment insensitive and racist, ABC News reported that Bush doubled
back to explain that he was not referring to Hispanics, he was specifically targeting Asians with his remarks.
"My background, my life, the fact that I am immersed in the
immigrant experience, this is ludicrous for the Clinton campaign and others to
suggest that somehow, somehow I am using a derogatory term," Bush said during a
press conference in McAllen, Texas
Bush visited the United States' border with Mexico as
an expression of opposition to Donald Trump's immigration plan. Trump believes it is imperative
to triple the number of border officers, stop
birthright citizenship (children born in the U.S. but born to immigrants in the
U.S. illegally, would no longer be granted citizenship), deport
people who overstay their visas and make it harder for asylum
seekers and refugees to get into the country.
While Trump has his sights set on securing the U.S. and Mexico
border, Bush said there are more important matters of immigration fraud to
attend to.
"What I was talking about was the specific case of fraud being
committed where there's organized efforts - and frankly it's more related to
Asian people - coming into our country ... taking advantage of a noble concept
with birthright citizenship," Bush said.
"I'm proud to be married to a
Mexican-American woman and I have children who are Hispanic," Bush
continued, speaking in Spanish as the crowd applauded.