Romney Toes Conservative Line On Immigration, Refers To ‘Illegal Aliens’

Definition of "illegal":

Contrary to or forbidden by law, esp. criminal law.


Definition of "alien":

A foreigner, esp. one who is not a naturalized citizen of the country where they are living.


So, a foreigner who is acting contrary to law. Seems pretty accurate to me.

but the right wing has turned that term into red meat for the wingnut base.

My google search of "illegal alien" in DHS.gov found several policy docs and stat sheets using the term. See also the official DHS glossary that also uses "illegal alien". DHS also uses terms like "unauthorized immigrant". Also a page devoted to a hotline to report "undocumented immigrants".

I don't necessarily agree with many of the policies of the DHS, but this IS part of their job. The fact that they use a legally accurate term on their website isn't particularly damning.

A legal and correct term has been turned into a war cry. When out in yahooland, the war cry "what part of illegal you don't understand" or "illegal is illegal, traitor." Usually followed by comments concerning assumptions about me never being in the military, sexual habits, one twerp actually posted "oldsarge wife's is an illegal." Real grown up stuff.

They get a bit feisty when I point out that the logic of their position is shaky. Like telling them from their point of view, anyone breaking a law is an "illegal". You know, speeding, running red lights, that beer in a paperbag while driving. Then there are those who advocate bringing the troops home and lining them up on the southern border with orders to shoot to kill. Or mining the border (when I point out that is a communist tactic, ever been up to Fulda?) they don't like it. Don't even mention their love of a Wall. I was living in Berlin as an AF Brat when the Wall went up. I have rather firm opinions about that.

And when these defenders of the constitution and democracy state "illegals have no human rights." I wonder if they ever got a passing grade in social studies.

Back to your comment. The fact that these neo-American Firsters have taken a perfectly legal term and made it into a sick label of hate, it is no fault of the DHS. I do wonder at times, though, how much of this crud if through neo-con mindset, and the "for profit" prisons trying to stir up business for themselves? 50/50, 60/40? what?

Forgive my rant. I've been fighting this fight for years. Human rights, and defending what I believe America is and should be, was one reason I spent 25 years in the AF, and a further decade in public schools.

I was speaking "illegal alien".

It can be argued that "Illegal" is just a short form of "illegal alien", but I do see how some could perceive a difference. The first may imply a general illegal status to the person without qualification. The latter is specific about the nature if the illegal act.

Whether or not illegal aliens in this country have civil rights or not is a separate discussion. I simply do not see the issue with calling "undocumented immigrants" illegal aliens. It's a less PC term, but it's equally (and, perhaps, more accurate).

here. By definition, a child cannot be an illegal alien. That is why Hispanics object to applying this term to children brought here.

That's the logical outcome of your argument. The parents are, therefore, at least perhaps guilty of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

This is no way in British/American jurisprudence that says a child can inherit a parent's crime. I'm not sure at what age a child accompanying a parent can be held liable for choosing to commit the crime, as there are plenty of precedent for parents having responsibility for the child. This is really a question for experts, not the media.

" Seems pretty accurate to me..."

Much as "illegal driver" i.e., one who speeds.
Or "illegal walker", ie. one who jaywalks.

Yet, we don't use the term "illegal" in the common parlance of "speeder" or "jaywalker".

...and I think that's a pretty accurate term for somebody who drives with no license.

It strikes the ear with the force of an insult. Hispanic people don't like the term, it's just that simple.

Geez, we've become so PC that even I'M a little uncomfortable with this video now...and it's Genesis, for chrissakes.

especially if they develop associations with divisiveness and racism, like 'illegal alien' has among Hispanic populations. If my Latino friends (and there have been many, as I was born and raised in west Texas) are offended by the term, then I don't use it.

I use the phrase when I speak to them. However, I don't expect "illegal alien" to be a universally-verboten term both because we shouldn't edit our general language when a few people become upset and because it IS a legally-valid term.

If somebody, of whatever race, is in this country legally then the term "illegal alien" doesn't apply.

good luck mittens!

He is all parts of the word stupid!

He's being "inelegant" again, I think. A little too close to "final solution" for my tastes, without further explanation.

He stuck to his conservative line on immigration reform without offering specifics. Does that sound vaguely famiiar?

At least he put "amnesty" in his pocket and didn't use that in front of an Hispanic crowd. Perhaps he is saving the term for his FOX interview today during which he will attempt to explain why he didn't go more 'teabagger' on his audience yesterday.

People for the American Way: (P)reviewing the Right-Wing Playbook on Immigration Reform

http://www.pfaw.org/rww-in-focus/previewing-the-right-wing-playbook-immigration-reform#strategy6

Strategy 6: Stop Reform by Shouting 'Amnesty'

Oh, wait. I guess that's only when it's convenient.