Why do people constantly confuse the term "illegal immigrant" with the word "immigrant"? Why has it become the common thing for people that immigrated to the U.S. legally to point out that they did so when faced with a question about illegal immigration?
The only thing the two have in common is the fact that they're both about immigration however one, is about -illegal- immigration, which is generally frowned upon, and the other about legal immigration, which is generally welcomed and embraced with open arms and questions about the country the person immigrated from.
And before anyone brings it up, because they're so often wrong about it, the national quotas that set limits to who could immigrate to the U.S. were abolished after the Immigration and Naturalization Services Act of 1965 was passed. That means that there have been no quotas in place preventing any specific ethnic group from immigrating for forty-one years.
2006-08-11 10:27:34 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
there's a somewhat interesting column in cnn today that addresses this distinction as it is playing out in congress these days. basically, some republican congressmen proposed a plan for securing the border with mexico, then adopting a guest worker program that requires illegals to go home and get a guest work visa that must be renewed every two years. if they follow the program for 12 years, they may be eligible for a green card. guess what - other anti-amnesty republican congressmen oppose this plan, and so the question is why? well, when forced to confront a proposal that secured the borders as a first priority and then channeled the immigration of low level workers through legal means, the responses ranged from "there would be too many mexicans and central americans coming in" to "it doesn't preference immigrants who speak english". in other words, they don't want to allow for immigration that might impact the cultural and linguistic make up of the country.
in other words, "i don't like people who are different than me, and i don't want to have to adapt myself or learn to get along with people who are different than me."
there are quite a few people on here who are openly racist and bigoted when it comes to the immigration issue, but for those who are claiming the issue is a difference between illegal and legal immigration, ask yourself if the ability to legalize latino workers in a highly controlled manner would satisfy you. would you approve of the program outlined above, and if not, why not?
oh also, i agree with some of the people here. this question has been asked and answered something like a gazillion times on this site. it seems pretty obvious that no one is confusing "illegal immigrant" with "immigrant". but some who are anti-illegal are still under the assumption that pro-illegals are confused just because we DON'T CARE about the legal status of the immigrant. we do understand that your problem is with the legal status, or so you claim.
2006-08-11 10:53:26 · answer #1 · answered by smack 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The answer is simple.. this confusion meant to be.. by the politicians who back up the illegal immigration or somehow benefit from it.. if they get the public confused.. they win.. cause they kind hide the illegal with the legal.. and have a nice day.
2006-08-11 17:47:42 · answer #2 · answered by guy_from_there 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because many people all too often listen and think associatively, rather than logically.
The phrase "illegal immigration" has been flying through the air with the speed and vehemence of sh*t hitting the proverbial fan, so when they hear half of the phrase, they think in terms of what first pops to mind.
They don't listen or read carefully.
PS ... as some of the answers above illustrate.
2006-08-11 17:37:16 · answer #3 · answered by tehabwa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, not many poor people can get in from Mexico, legally, because of the vast illegal immigration. It hurts those who would follow the rules. Other countries get the lottery, etc. We limit how many poor can come because we subsidize their education and services, which are too expensive for poor people to pay for with their taxes (which is why Mexico doesn't pay for them.)
However, that just means that those who come illegally are stealing those funds from our sick and our children. That is the real problem.
2006-08-11 17:33:35 · answer #4 · answered by DAR 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because in this country, the laws don't matter.
Our own government say so. Thus, the rest of the population has forgotten how to make the distinction between legal and illegal acts.
2006-08-11 17:31:45 · answer #5 · answered by coragryph 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
So the pro-illegals could have another excuse against anti-illegals. They probably already know the difference between a normal immigrant and an illegal immigrant....or not :P
2006-08-11 20:43:26 · answer #6 · answered by TROLLIN' 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The illegals used to be called "illegal aliens". "Illegal immigrants" is a more politically correct term. The liberal media tried to use the term "undocumented immigrants" but thankfully that didn't seem to catch on.
2006-08-11 17:36:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gosh, I have been wondering the same thing. If the "illegals" want to try immigration legally, then by all means, your welcome here. No immigrate is above the other, all should go through the same process if they would like to be in the U.S. The average person is very ignorant of this topic.
2006-08-11 17:35:15 · answer #8 · answered by Hutch777 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is sad, that a immigrant needs to point out, they did it legally ...
2006-08-11 17:35:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its because the Medea does not want to offend anyone or lose and of the viewers.
Plus you have to many questions in one lol.
2006-08-11 17:31:10 · answer #10 · answered by Baby F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋