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

Renewal of that deal is up this year, but Turkish citizens have soured on Syrian refugees, and anti-immigrant right-wing parties have surged in popularity in parts of Europe. —Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026

Renewal of that deal is up this year, but Turkish citizens have soured on Syrian refugees and anti-immigrant right-wing parties have surged in popularity in parts of Europe. —Sam McNeil, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026

Requirements like these increase harmful anti-immigrant rhetoric. —Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026

Migration over the past decade has stirred right-wing, anti-immigrant sentiment in some parts of Europe. —ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above