Is the term "illegal immigrant" a slur?

[minha_raposa 0]

He11, I wish I knew how to become an illegal American so I too could get free health care. Perhaps I should have considered having my wife just slip across the border in Juarez also...sure would have saved a lot of money AND she would get the same priveledge the [b]I L L E G A L S[/b] are becoming entitled to.

Last I checked, all hospitals in the US )actually, in most civilized countries, I believe) are legally required to give emergency medical care to anyone. even those who can't pay.

The reason your wife doesn't get free health care is that you have a job. For which you should consider yourself lucky. Or maybe you're independently wealthy. Whatever. The point is that people who have no money, regardless of their immigration status, are entitled to health care. There are millions of people who are in this country legally, hell, there are US citizens even, who get free health care because they're dirt poor.

Are you saying you wish you and your wife were included in that group?

Yes, I realize people are entitled to emergency medical care regarless of status, but even the legal and poor in our country face the ramifications of NOT paying. You will get reported to a credit agency, you face potential judgements and other legal matters...unless you are ILLEGAL. There is usually no way to collect since most do not have legitimate documents in which they can be tracked. Health care aint free so who do you think pays? You and I. Those emergency rooms are so full of people in this country ILLEGALLy that health care for the the people who pays those bills suffer. Our generosity is being trampled and hospitals overwhelmed with people entering this country illegally. Did you ever consider that just *maybe* healthcare would be better and cost less IF we did not foot the bill for the scofflaws? Its sad that we don't take care of our own people who live in the streets, or are mentally ill, or just cannot afford life in general but sure...we can rally hundreds of thousand of "protesters" to fight for the rights of people who are not even entitled to be here in the first place.

Do I wish I had free healthcare? Hell yes! However, we know that will never happen, but at the same time I would prefer to spend my hard earned dollars on reasonable healthcare cost for my own family. Wouldn't you?

[Fandango 1,440]

He11, I wish I knew how to become an illegal American so I too could get free health care. Perhaps I should have considered having my wife just slip across the border in Juarez also...sure would have saved a lot of money AND she would get the same priveledge the [b]I L L E G A L S[/b] are becoming entitled to.

Last I checked, all hospitals in the US )actually, in most civilized countries, I believe) are legally required to give emergency medical care to anyone. even those who can't pay.

The reason your wife doesn't get free health care is that you have a job. For which you should consider yourself lucky. Or maybe you're independently wealthy. Whatever. The point is that people who have no money, regardless of their immigration status, are entitled to health care. There are millions of people who are in this country legally, hell, there are US citizens even, who get free health care because they're dirt poor.

Are you saying you wish you and your wife were included in that group?

Yes, I realize people are entitled to emergency medical care regarless of status, but even the legal and poor in our country face the ramifications of NOT paying. You will get reported to a credit agency, you face potential judgements and other legal matters...unless you are ILLEGAL. There is usually no way to collect since most do not have legitimate documents in which they can be tracked. Health care aint free so who do you think pays? You and I. Those emergency rooms are so full of people in this country ILLEGALLy that health care for the the people who pays those bills suffer. Our generosity is being trampled and hospitals overwhelmed with people entering this country illegally. Did you ever consider that just *maybe* healthcare would be better and cost less IF we did not foot the bill for the scofflaws? Its sad that we don't take care of our own people who live in the streets, or are mentally ill, or just cannot afford life in general but sure...we can rally hundreds of thousand of "protesters" to fight for the rights of people who are not even entitled to be here in the first place.

Do I wish I had free healthcare? Hell yes! However, we know that will never happen, but at the same time I would prefer to spend my hard earned dollars on reasonable healthcare cost for my own family. Wouldn't you?

Edited April 12, 2006 by LisaD

[mawilson 2,133]

Alright, let's call them "legally challenged".

LOL

[pedroh 21]

ROFFL my WAFFLES

i think the one the're using as slur, or as a stereotype is 'mexicans'.. in this part of the state theres kinda an even number of mexicans, guatemalans and hondurans.. but the always smart rednecks always say 'them mexicans'.. when.. well.. they are not.. but oh well.. there are educated people who think Panama is part of Mexico..

[Scott & Lai 12]

The person is not illegal, their immigration status is.

I agree that it's dehumanizing, but not that it's racist or whatever Sandoval was trying to argue. I especially hate it when people call them "illegals."

Personally I prefer "undocumented." Probably because it just sounds, really, really weird to say "extranjero ilegal" (illegal alien) in Spanish, and much more logical to say "extranjero indocumentado" (undocumented alien). And that's the population I work with.

Ok....

Driving w/o a license = "undocumented driver"

Robbing a bank = "undocumented withdrawal"

Home invasion = "undocumented guest"

Stowaway = "undocumented passenger"

Do you need government documents to enter the US? Yes. Therefore, undocumented alien.

Do you need government documents to drive a car? Yes. Therefore, undocumented driver. Sure. What's the difference between that and "unlicensed driver"? Which is what they're actually called?

Do you need government documents to withdraw money from a bank? Go to someone's house? Get on a boat or plane?

Don't be an idiot.

There's no need for personal insults...

My problem with the term "undocumented alien/worker" is the way it is used to cover up the fact that laws are being broken, or to remove the stigma. It makes it sound like the person has simply left their documentation at home in their other pants, when, in fact, they never had legitimate documentation in the first place.

And yes, you do need government documents to withdraw money from a bank. To withdraw money, first you have to have an account. In order to set up an account, you have to show a picture I.D. and a Social Security card. And to fly, you at least need a driver's license or state I.D., and if you are flying internationally (or taking a boat to another country, for that matter), you must have a passport.

As for going to someone's house, what I said is called an argumentum ad absurdum. The point with that and the other examples was to point out that using a euphemism to describe law-breaking doesn't make it any less law-breaking. $#!+ by any other name still stinks.

but oh well.. there are educated people who think Panama is part of Mexico..

It's not?

[pedroh 21]

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Don't be an idiot.

There's no need for personal insults...

Agreed.

[ChristinaM 0]

Is the term "legal immigrant" in any way a favourable term? Does it get you special treatment? In my experience, nope.

I don't consider "Illegal Immigrant" to be a slur; it's merely a reflection of status.

If you break it down, an immigrant is one who has moved to another country. They are "aliens" due to not being citizens of this country, and "alien" is not synonymous with "immigrant". "Illegal" simply implies that they are not in legal status, either because they are overstays or because they EWI.

"Undocumented" is simply a more aurally pleasing way of saying the same thing. Whatever you choose to label it, their status does not become any more legal.

As far as the supposed dehumanising effects of being labeled "illegal" as opposed to "undocumented", I frankly don't care. If you are here in this country against the laws (ie. illegally), then in my personal opinion you cannot complain when you are branded an "illegal immigrant". If you were in jail for shoplifting, you would have no right to complain about being branded a "petty thief".

Just my opinion

[munchkins 0]

Is the term "legal immigrant" in any way a favourable term? Does it get you special treatment? In my experience, nope.

I don't consider "Illegal Immigrant" to be a slur; it's merely a reflection of status.

If you break it down, an immigrant is one who has moved to another country. They are "aliens" due to not being citizens of this country, and "alien" is not synonymous with "immigrant". "Illegal" simply implies that they are not in legal status, either because they are overstays or because they EWI.

"Undocumented" is simply a more aurally pleasing way of saying the same thing. Whatever you choose to label it, their status does not become any more legal.

As far as the supposed dehumanising effects of being labeled "illegal" as opposed to "undocumented", I frankly don't care. If you are here in this country against the laws (ie. illegally), then in my personal opinion you cannot complain when you are branded an "illegal immigrant". If you were in jail for shoplifting, you would have no right to complain about being branded a "petty thief".

Just my opinion

And a good one too clmarsh.

At the end of the day and no matter how is is dressed up "illegal" is illegal which means, to my mind, something that is done outstide the laws of that country.

"if you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen"

[pedroh 21]

the only thing i dont like.. is that in the 'racial profiling guidelines' that law enforcement uses.. describes hispanics as 'possibly entered the country illegaly'.. which.. well.. it isn't true .. generalizations sucks.. and that'd be the only thing that bothers me.. and for a lotta a-holes that also think mexican=illegal.. i was asked a few times if i crossed the river.. which bothers me a lot.. but oh well, it has been at work, can't punch their sorry ignorant arses

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

the only thing i dont like.. is that in the 'racial profiling guidelines' that law enforcement uses.. describes hispanics as 'possibly entered the country illegaly'.. which.. well.. it isn't true .. generalizations sucks.. and that'd be the only thing that bothers me.. and for a lotta a-holes that also think mexican=illegal.. i was asked a few times if i crossed the river.. which bothers me a lot.. but oh well, it has been at work, can't punch their sorry ignorant arses

Racial profiling can be a very effective law enforcement tool if used intelligently. That usually isn't the case, however.

[pedroh 21]

meh.. it happened to me once.. i found it offensive and discriminatory.. not a big fan of it..

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

meh.. it happened to me once.. i found it offensive and discriminatory.. not a big fan of it..

Yeah, happened to me too. Race is a component in an overall profile, and can be valuable information in that sense, but dumbass cops and TSA fukcers don't know how to apply it properly. They use racial profiling as a way to justify their own biases and it becomes a mess... an ineffective mess.

[pedroh 21]

true.. true.. but i still dont think race defines a behavior.. i think the environment defines the behavior.. i mean.. not because someone's black he's gonna be in jail or shot at least once before he's 18 (an actual fact).. but the environment in which he lives determines that IMHO

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

true.. true.. but i still dont think race defines a behavior.. i think the environment defines the behavior.. i mean.. not because someone's black he's gonna be in jail or shot at least once before he's 18 (an actual fact).. but the environment in which he lives determines that IMHO

The argument has never been that race defines behavior.

The argument is that people stick together and certain forms of crime are more prevalent in certain communities than others. It's a probability thing, not a definitive thing.

To take a completely harmless example, if you were asked to draw up a profile of your typical 7-11 owner in the state of New Jersey... what would it be? Remember, the aim isn't to draw up a profile that includes all 7-11 owners, but to draw up a profile that is the most likely descriptor of 7-11 owners. If I had to draw that profile up, my elements would be "male", "between 30-50 years of age", "married", "South Asian/Arabic descent", "naturalized citizen or LPR", "drives a Honda/Toyota", "lives within 30 miles of NYC but not in it"...

Race is just a component. That's all. A valuable one, however, one without which the profile becomes much less useful.