green carder

English

Alternative forms

• green-carder, greencarder

Etymology

green card +‎ -er

Noun

green carder (plural green carders)

1. (US) A Mexican citizen who has a green card to work in the United States, especially one who lives in Mexico and commutes across the border.
   • 1969, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Education and Labor. Special Subcommittee on Labor, Employment of "green Card" Aliens During Labor Disputes:

     The problem of the green carder is not confined to the border area, or to the green-card commuter.

   • 1977, Brian S. Rungeling, Vernon M. Briggs jr., John F. Adams, Employment, Income, and Welfare in the Rural South, page 271:

     Rather, it is the green carder who actually lives in Mexico but who commutes on a daily or seasonal basis to the United States who causes inequities to exist.

   • 2013, Richard Worth, Dolores Huerta:

     Manyof the "green carders" returned to their homes south of the border at night.

2. (US, loosely) A United States citizen of Mexican descent who lives in Mexico and commutes across the border.