Cardona: ‘Anchor Baby’ ‘Legitimizes the Dehumanization of Our Most Vulnerable’

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:

CARDONA: "This term is incredibly offensive, Pam, because it actually legitimizes the dehumanization of our most vulnerable, of our most innocent, of children who, by the way, per the constitution are U.S. Citizens, and, in fact, people who use this term and who use it in a derogatory manner don't necessarily differentiate between the children of legal residents here, legal citizens even in some cases, and those who are undocumented. And that is why blanketing the term and using it as such is so offensive. If you want to talk about the policy, if you want to talk about what Ben referred to in terms of, you know, some people coming here to have children specifically so that they can be born U.S. Citizens, then describe it, describe it as such. Don't use the term anchor babies because you have a lot of Latinos --" 
FERGUSON: "--Anchor baby --" 
CARDONA: "--You have a lot of Latinos --" 
FERGUSON: "--Anchor baby describes that--" 
CARDONA: "Let me finish. You have a lot of Latinos who have been referred to as having anchor babies who are U.S. Citizens. For example, Pam, I am an immigrant. I was not born in this country. I have two U.S. citizen kids. Are they anchor babies? In the eyes of some in the extreme right wing, yes they would be. And that is not the way to have this conversation."