‘Anchor babies’ term not racist: Bush

US Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush says it was ludicrous to describe his use of the term “anchor babies” as offensive to immigrants, saying his original comments referred more to Asians coming to the US to give birth.

Bush’s remarks came at a news conference in McAllen, Texas, near the border with Mexico, where he was asked if using the “anchor babies” term in a radio interview last week could affect his ability to win Hispanic votes.

“My background, my life, the fact that I’m immersed in the immigrant experience, this is ludicrous for the Clinton campaign and others to suggest that somehow I’m using a derogatory term,” said Bush, whose wife was born in Mexico and who answered some questions in Spanish.

“What I was talking about was the specific case of fraud being committed where there’s organised efforts, frankly it’s more related to Asian people coming into our country, having children in that organised effort, taking advantage of a noble concept, which is birthright citizenship,” he said.

The 14th amendment to the US constitution grants citizenship to any child born on US soil, regardless of parentage.

Immigration critics sometimes use “anchor babies” to describe US-born children of illegal immigrants, usually from Latin America.

Immigration groups say the phrase is offensive.

The former Florida governor sounded frustrated to have to address the issue again after telling reporters last week he did not regret using the term because he did not know of a better one.

After Bush used the phrase last week, Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton criticised him, tweeting: “They’re called babies.”

“I support the 14th amendment. Nothing about what I’ve said should be viewed as derogatory towards immigrants at all,” Bush said.

“I was focusing on a specific targeted kind of case where people are organising to bring pregnant women into the country, where they’re having children so their children can become citizens,” Bush said. “That’s fraud.”

In a statement on Monday, the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans condemned “the use of the derogatory term ‘anchor babies’.”