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The term ‘illegal immigrant’ is a question of feelings, not semantics

Posted on October 31, 2012 By Delfin Carbonell Basset Immigration

The debate over terms like illegals, illegal aliens, illegal immigrants and undocumented immigrants has gone viral and lost touch with the reality of language and human beings.

illegal immigrant

Immigration laws started with the Page Act, in 1875. (shutterstock photo)

“AP memo clarifies (sic) how to use the phrase ‘illegal immigrant’” is the title of an article by Mallary Jean Tenore in Poynter (22 Oct, 2012) where she reproduces statements by Paul Coldford and Tom Kent both from the Associated Press (AP). True to their craft and trade, they “clarify” nothing and simply beat around the bush, with some sound and fury (not much, really), signifying nothing.

The attempt to clarify the terminology comes in the wake of challenges by José Antonio Vargas (a Filipino) in The New York Times about an illegal immigrant. The Associated Press did not decide motu proprio to reflect on this matter, as expected.

Of course, Messrs. Coldford and Poynter very pointedly point out that “The Stylebook now says “illegal immigrant” can also be used to describe a person who “resides in a country in criminal or civil violation of immigration law.” Additionally, it advises against using terms like “illegals” and “illegal alien.” Neither of them seem to perceive that the whole issue is not about words but what hides behind the terminology. They hide behind the inclusion of “resides in a country” (any country) in the definition, thinking that two in distress makes sorrow less.

illegal immigrant

The debate over terms like illegals, illegal aliens, illegal immigrants and undocumented immigrants has gone viral. (Photo/ freedomwriter)

The press’ use of illegal immigrant goes back, way back

The expression “illegal immigration” is not a new one: it was first recorded in 1887. Illegal immigrant was first used in print in 1892, at a time when anyone from Europe with some gold in his pocket to pay the famous, an inappropriate, head tax, could enter the country.

The whole history of immigration legislation in the United States is a path paved with racism, xenophobic attitudes, prejudices, bigotry and downright hate that runs counter to what can be read at the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free… the homeless…”, in a poem by Emma Lazarus, written in 1883, and posted finally in a plaque in 1903. It was thought that the poem would be very meaningful to immigrants coming to the shores of America.

illegal immigrant

A sign that reads “Illegal Aliens here” with a handrwiting stating “Not for long”. (Photo/ freedomistheanswer)

Immigration laws started with the Page Act, in 1875, which announced the very first of many more to come. Here are some immigration laws:

1790    Naturalization limited to free white persons of good moral character, leaving out slaves, Indians, free Blacks and Orientals.

1875    The Page Act, mainly against Chinese laborers.

1882    Chinese Exclusion Act. (Chinese out.)

1892    Ellis Island (the least said about this, the better.) Women travelling alone had to be met by a man, or else deported on the spot.

1902    Chinese Exclusion Act renewed indefinitely.

1922    Japanese made illegible for citizenship.

1943    Chinese Laws were repealed and set a quota of 105 per year.

2001    U.S. Patriot Act (better read it.)

America has been for over 200 years a country of lawful, unlawful, paperless, naturalized, permanent residents, with student visas, with tourist visas… visitors, immigrants, all aliens, foreigners, like Wernher von Broun, a Nazi scientist, who was granted U.S. citizenship and honored, in spite of his having used concentration-camp forced labor in his native Germany. I do not recall his being termed “alien,” “or alien immigrant”…at the time. The Government granted him legal status right away, instead of taking him before a judge.

illegal immigrant

Jose anotnio Vargas on Time magazine cover. (Time)

The core of the matter is not whether The New York Times of the Associated Press uses terms like “illegal immigrant” but rather the idea behind it that supports all those who are xenophobic and deem all aliens a bad lot. Worse still, “illegal immigrant” right now refers to Hispanics more than to anybody else, especially Mexicans, who make up most of the Latino population.

The huge problem of foreigners in this country, and the so-called white supremacy, has to be solved somehow. Perhaps President Obama is the only one capable of removing this beam in the eye of the U.S.

In his article “My life as an undocumented immigrant” (The New York Times, June 22, 2011), Mr. José Antonio Vargas says at one point about his nightmare as an undocumented alien, illegal immigrant: “I’m done running. I’m exhausted. I don’t want that life anymore.”

Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,

That Jesus Christ is born.

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  • radsenior

    The core of the matter is not whether The New York Times of the Associated Press uses terms like “illegal immigrant” but rather the idea behind it that supports all those who are xenophobic and deem all aliens a bad lot. Worse still, “illegal immigrant” right now refers to Hispanics more than to anybody else, especially Mexicans, who make up most of the Latino population. The core matter is white American’s are scared of the coming outcome of this continued migration. America is the shining light drawing from abroad, and the most settled immigrants begin promulgation of the species in their new comfortable environment. Hispanics/Latinos scare the white people as they will become the new majority and will have a serious impact with their socio-politico-economic purchasing power.

    • Richard Spencer

      of course white people are concerned

      what is happening is GENOCIDE as defined by international law UN Resolution 260

      It doesn’t matter if someone believes international crimes are JUSTIFIED, they are still crimes.

      There should be ZERO immigration legal or illegal

      Anti-Racist is a codeword for Anti-White

  • magyart

    radsenior, You have never been to Hawaii. Whitey is a minority there and it hasn’t scared anyone. Immigrants contribute to our society. Illegal migrants do not. It not racial, for an illegal migrant may be of any race, from any country.

  • wigglwagon

    Immigrants are required to carry proof of legal status. Violation of that statute is a federal crime. It is not a civil violation.

    How can anyone be ‘undocumented’ and not be a criminal? Criminal activity is ILLEGAL.

  • robinked

    jose vargas & his ILLEGAL minions Are NOT American’s, they Are LawBreakers & Border Jumpers that Think any amount of whinning, kicking, screaming (just like a Petulant 2 yr. old Pitchin’ a Fit) will get Us to ‘overLook’ their Crime….Wrong…!!!–And No amount of ‘political correctness’ aka ReEducation will Change that….. Illegal IS Illegal…….nuff said!!!!

  • Delfin

    I still think human beings deserve being treated as human beings.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Francis/100003689645540 Dave Francis

    God help America. Obama’s won a second term, so we can expect Sky high gas prices as he plays into the Environmentalists zealots hands. Even more rules and regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to inhibit the drilling of petroleum, natural gas and the inevitable extinction of the coal industry. A massive illegal alien invasion under President Obama’s watch to give the 20 million illegal aliens a path to citizenship, in this once sovereign nation. Instead of small business created the demoralization as the companies leaving the U.S.A for less taxed countries. Huge influx of more illegal aliens pouring into the country, for Obama’s entitlement programs bringing their babies in even huge waves and an astronomical burden on taxpayers. Unions becoming even more powerful, buying favors from the already corrupt political parties. More draining of the U.S. treasury to pay for so called friends in incompetent foreign countries, and the dismissal of a once powerful military defense, conceding to huge cuts in budgets to pay for the spongers, scroungers and freeloaders amongst the population who have no intentions of finding a job. An even deeper recession with this administration printing more money, adding to a growing inflation, more expensive food and even more crushing threats of the Justice Department against states as Arizona, Georgia, and a few others in the 50 states by bloated agencies.

    Marxists such as the notorious Eric Holder, ultra Liberal as Janet Napolitano, Communist Czars and his rash of simpletons in his federal agency who sued states trying to protect their taxpayers from spending their hard earned money on supporting illegal aliens. A clamp down on free speech, liberties and freedoms by Obama’s liberal’s goons throughout the states. More control by the United Nations as Obama administration is subservient to them, to provide a global tax of all the industrialized nations. The United States is becoming a more secular country under this government, which is prosecuting the rights of the church and religion because of the harsh Socialist agenda. This country is becoming more Balkanized by 137 foreign languages instead of the one foundation of everybody speaking English. Our educational system is in dire trouble, with a failing beyond what we can imagine and covered up? Places with large populations with illegal alien children are flooding our schools and distracting our teachers from producing our performance of legitimate Americans and legal immigrants. The loss to our great country is returning our school structure to our states and not compromised by a bunch of bureaucrats in Washington. Instead I suspect a monolithic rise in government agencies that is a danger to our fundamental liberties.

    Political correctness forced on a nation so that terminology such as terrorist is banned or words attributed to the murderers spawning seed in the Middle East. The right to bear arms will be something this administration tries to erase in the next four years. However, one bright light at the end of the tunnel, whichever way you see it? The Republicans with the growing spread of the TEA PARTY in the House of Representatives means another four years of deadlock, where no major policies can be passed. No bills of any importance will also be accomplished in the Senate, with a senile old man called Harry Reid of Nevada. Nothing and I mean nothing will find passage under majority leader Reid, because both parties hate each other. I am extremely grateful that the House of Representatives holds reign of the purse strings, so funds can be withheld from the Tax and spend Democrats.
    This new America has been built on the backs of takers, that is, those who take the entitlements but, do not produce. The Takers won last night. Obama cunningly promised more entitlements to an entitlement driven society, and, like a moth to the light they embraced his offer and sold their votes (souls) for more stuff. As the takers sold their votes they empowered the government, so now Washington can control of their lives as long as the gravy train keeps rolling. With gridlock in Congress, little or nothing will be done. Obama’s minions used the racial separation, the illegal migrant and immigrant major issue and has shown through his first four years of an administration full of derision, anti-conservatism and a serious move towards a European type socialist Democracy. I worked 29 years in the Merchant Marine and earned my 4 pensions. I want to know “WHY” for the my hard work of grueling, arduous years at sea for my family, that my taxes are taken to pay for the living standards of “Freeloaders” and the largest majority of illegal aliens who are parasites at the public trough? NOTHINGS GOING TO CHANGE? ILLEGAL ALIENS WILL KEEP COMING DEMANDING CITIZEN RIGHT AND WE ARE THE FOOLS THAT WILL PANDER TO THEM.

    ALL I KNOW IS MY FAMILY HAS BEEN IN THE SANCTUARY STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR GENERATIONS, SO IT WAS TIME TO MOVE ON FROM EXORBITANT TAXES TO PAY FOR FOREIGNERS THAT DO NOT RESPECT OUR LAWS, COMPLETELY IGNORE THEM.

    The Tea Party is now more significant than ever before with estimates of 41 million voters. We told the Republicans they should be more confrontational, more direct and display Obama’s record for the world to see, but their egotism blinded them to the reality. The accomplishments of the Tea Party is the only shining light in the conservative movement and the GOP took complete advantage of our work as well as the sweat of our backs, and yet, the blind Pharisees refused our wise counsel. This leaves us with little choice but to take it, get tougher and protect our American heritage with all we’ve got. Mr. Mitt Romney worked hard, but played it safe, stayed in the safe waters and refused to expose ‘America’s Fraud President’ and what was the result? Mr. Romney lost, and the Republican Party failed America. However, the greater issue is far beyond Obama or Romney. This Presidential race clearly shows America is a DIVIDED NATION looking for a tough no-nonsense management with real conservative values. The Tea Party is the last remaining stronghold of TRUE Conservative values in America, we must not stop!

    • The Liberal stream media has been co-conspirators from the commencement and thus the general public knew little of ‘America’s Fraud President’ and the hateful measures perpetrated by the Obama Regime. This is why the Tea Party must bring national awareness to the dangers of the lame stream press and educate the public on the impact of their recent actions of the ‘takers’ as they sold their votes. The Tea Party must march forward with a 2 prong approach. We must bypass the lame stream media with truthful and accurate information.

    • We must tell the Republican Party they have proven themselves ineffective and therefore must get out of our way.

    •

    Now is the time that we must surge. We shall not go quietly into the night, but we are ready to take our stand here, we will not back down, ever.

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