“Illegal” is a dirty word
October 30, 2007 – 6:06 pmIn a recent NY Times Editorial the writer argues that the word “illegal,” which is often part of anti-immigrant rhetoric doesn’t really explain the status of the person who enters this country, or remains behind unlawfully. It is a great editorial that tries to explain why “illegal” is a word that should only be describing the immigrant status of people who do not have a permission to be here, it should not be describing the person.
Mr. Downes explains:
Since the word modifies not the crime but the whole person, it goes too far. It spreads, like a stain that cannot wash out. It leaves its target diminished as a human, a lifetime member of a presumptive criminal class. People are often surprised to learn that illegal immigrants have rights. Really? Constitutional rights? But aren’t they illegal? Of course they have rights: they have the presumption of innocence and the civil liberties that the Constitution wisely bestows on all people, not just citizens.
Sadly I fear that our society is unwilling to listen to reason. Instead we choose to demonize those that are different from us, and who God forbid speak a different language from our own. What a shock. I mean really – should a country that is built on immigration really even questions peoples right to speak a language other than English? And do you really believe that all your forefathers spoke perfect English in the first generation? Unless you are 100% English, my guess is no.
For the full NY Times editorial click here.
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2 Responses to ““Illegal” is a dirty word”
I honestly am torn on this issue. I am an Immigration lawyer and an immigrant myself. I understand what the writer is saying. An illegal is illegal. An illegal act is illegal act. It just depends as to what level one man, a community or a city, state or nation wants to tolerate the illegal act which violates the societal norms and tests its’ patience. I read Guiliani’s statement that Illegals are a Federal problem. It is classic shifting the blame. Looking the other way is great way to not take responsibility. All of these things- little or big- add up and multiply the problem. Can you imagine City and State enforcing the Federal rights? Private citizens making citizen arrests. Do you think that people who cross borders and come on visitor visa, student visa etc. and want to come stay here “illegally” or “without documents” and becoming “illegal” or “undocumented” will feel the same way about staying in the US. I doubt if they will ever take a step out of their house let alone taking the plane ride. May be they will stay back home and plough their fields (like in my home state of Punjab, India where farmers are selling their fields to be able to pay the travel agents to bring them here illegally), or go to school and get education and build their own country instead of coming here and be humiliated themselves and causing a turmoil for others “foreign nationals” who otherwise have the right to stay and work and be respected. I agree that all human beings have rights. No problem there. But no one should be coming and staying illegally.
Two wrongs don’t make a right.
I remain confused!!!
By Madan Ahluwalia on Oct 31, 2007
Thank you for your intelligent commentary. I think the heart of the problem is that there are very few legal ways to come to the United States if you do not meet the requirements for skilled worker visas. Even in these categories, there is such a backlog of cases that people who come here legally and work their way up through the system are suspended in a void where legality and illegality of status changes depending on the discretionary, often non-nonsensical decisions of USCIS employees at the various service centers. Our country is great. It is very large and rich. We can definitely afford and should allow more people to come here and better their lives (and our nation in the process). It is true that we cannot just open up the floodgates, but as long as there is demand by employers I see no reason for not expanding legal immigration. Many people who are here “illegally” are here in that status because they did not have the option to come here legally. The current system is broken, and I only hope that the pressure will push the legislators in the right direction. I also think that some areas of the country could definitely use farmers and workers from places like Punjab, India – for example North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana,Nebraska and other Midwestern states or Alaska where people are leaving the country for cities. Our country needs more immigrants to grow strong and to be able to compete against other upcoming nations like India, China, European Union and Russia. The whole debate over whether people here are legal or illegal is irrelevant – the real debate should be over who contributes to our society and who doesn’t. If we had a debate like that I think that the most immigrants in this country would fare well.
By admin on Oct 31, 2007