Illegal immigrant is offensive, inaccurate
It's the act, not the person, that is illegal


Extraterrestrials or Mexican immigrants?

By Domenico Maceri
Mexico News Daily | Thursday, May 5, 2016

“Could the president grant deferred removal to every unlawfully present alien in the United States right now?”

That’s how Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts referred to individuals lacking the proper documents to be in the country during a recent hearing on DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents).

“Alien” is the legal term to describe these individuals, but Justice Sonia Sotomayor also referred to them as “undocumented immigrants.” She objected to the phrase “illegal immigrants,” which she considers too harsh. Justice Sotomayor even explained that “illegal immigrants” associates them with “drug addicts, thieves, and murderers.”

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The English language is extremely rich but at times it’s also not capable of providing us with “le mot juste,” as Gustave Flaubert would say.

The legal term “alien” may be accurate in the justice system, but certainly ineffective in everyday usage. Illegal alien is even much worse since it conjures the images of extraterrestrials, contrasting them with other aliens who do have the right to be on earth and in the U.S.

When I first came to the U.S. in the late 1960s, I carried a green card officially labeled “alien registration card.” Not knowing English, “alien” meant nothing to me. Now I find the term inaccurate and also deeply offensive.

Also offensive are other terms used to label individuals who are in the U.S. without legal papers. The phrase “illegal immigrants” is favored by conservatives since it matches their political agenda. These people are criminals whose illegal act goes far beyond the lack of appropriate documents to be in the U.S.

That’s how Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts referred to individuals lacking the proper documents to be in the country during a recent hearing on DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents).

“Alien” is the legal term to describe these individuals, but Justice Sonia Sotomayor also referred to them as “undocumented immigrants.” She objected to the phrase “illegal immigrants,” which she considers too harsh. Justice Sotomayor even explained that “illegal immigrants” associates them with “drug addicts, thieves, and murderers.”

“
The English language is extremely rich but at times it’s also not capable of providing us with “le mot juste,” as Gustave Flaubert would say.

The legal term “alien” may be accurate in the justice system, but certainly ineffective in everyday usage. Illegal alien is even much worse since it conjures the images of extraterrestrials, contrasting them with other aliens who do have the right to be on earth and in the U.S.

When I first came to the U.S. in the late 1960s, I carried a green card officially labeled “alien registration card.” Not knowing English, “alien” meant nothing to me. Now I find the term inaccurate and also deeply offensive.

Also offensive are other terms used to label individuals who are in the U.S. without legal papers. The phrase “illegal immigrants” is favored by conservatives since it matches their political agenda. These people are criminals whose illegal act goes far beyond the lack of appropriate documents to be in the U.S.

http://mexiconewsdaily.com/opinion/i....PdwL2i8P.dpuf