U.S. Rep. Steve King, a Republican who represents Iowa’s new 4th District in northwest Iowa, has begun 113th Congress by proposing federal legislation to halt immigrant “anchor babies” from automatically becoming United States citizens simply because their mothers give birth in this nation’s hospitals.
The term “anchor babies” is considered derogatory by immigration activists, while critics of federal immigration policies contend such children are routinely born here with the goal of improving the chances of the mother and other relatives of eventually securing citizenship.