anti-immigrant

adjective

an·​ti-im·​mi·​grant ˌan-tē-ˈi-mə-grənt  ˌan-tī- 

: opposed to immigrants or immigration : characterized by or expressing opposition to or hostility toward immigrants

State and local politicians have used widespread public opposition to immigration to justify new anti-immigrant legislation.

—Robert K. Schaeffer

anti-immigration

ˌan-tē-ˌi-mə-ˈgrā-shən, 

ˌan-tī- 

adjective

anti-immigration policies

News of the rising growth rate also prompted anti-immigration groups to claim that immigrants damage the environment.

—Priscilla Huang

Examples of anti-immigrant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Nigeria has said two of its citizens were killed in anti-immigrant protests in South Africa, though South African authorities have denied their deaths were linked to the protests. — ABC News, 13 July 2026

Last month, anti-immigrant protesters clashed with police during riots across the capital Belfast, which saw homes and vehicles torched and authorities deploy water cannons. — Kara Fox, CNN Money, 10 July 2026

South Africa, where millions of people are unemployed, has seen a ​surge in anti-immigrant sentiment in recent months, culminating in nationwide protests on June 30, an informal deadline set ​for undocumented immigrants to leave the country. — Reuters, NBC news, 9 July 2026

That distinction remains critical in South Florida, where many Venezuelans fear criminal narratives can quickly fuel broader anti-immigrant sentiment. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above