What part of 'illegal' is so hard to understand?

Question

If you're trying to come into the country illegally, and you get arrested and sent back, have you got any right to be mad about it?

Answer 1

RIGHT ON!! I have been preaching this 'sermon' for years.. and there are SO many who STILL don't get it!! To be honest, I didn't understand it too well until I lived in California.. Talk about a wake up call!!! I was the minority..why? because I happened to be legal.. OF COURSE I was legal.. I was born here.. as were the last 8 generations of my family! The people I had to deal with out there were illegal and had absolutely NO respect or consideration for ANYONE.. even their own.. laws? HA.. they were only there to be broken.. often.. Now I have moved back to the midwest and I see the scurge moving across the land.. slowly but surely, they are moving in everywhere.. and those of us who don't see it.. or accept it for what it is.. are going to wake up one morning to a world we absolutely do NOT recognize..

Answer 2

Everyone knows the rules of the game. If you enter the country illegally and get caught, you have no one to blame but yourself.

The notion that the term "illegal" is meaningless when used without a noun is not an intellectually honest argument. Everyone know that, in the context of immigration, "illegal" is a shorthand/slang term that is short for "illegal immigrant." It is both accurate and appropriate. After all, in the context of immigration policy, the defining, relevant characteristic of one who enters in a manner contrary to law IS that that the immigrant is here illegally. If immigrant were here legally, there wouldn't be anything to talk about.

I believe that those who disfavor the term "illegal" dislike it's negative connotation because they sympathize with the immigrants' plight.

But we can't solve a problem if we can't use use honest, accurate language to identify it.

What's even worse is that those opposed to the term "illegal" often favor misleading terms like "undocumented worker," implying that (1) the unlawful entry is really only a simple paperwork issue---just a technicality that has no substantive legal or moral significance and (2) that the individual has come here to be a working, productive member of society.

The notion that we shouldn't enforce immigration laws unless we enforce all laws is charmingly idealistic but naive and unrealistic. Enforcement decisions always necessarily involve some discretion. Proctorial resources are limited and are necessarily allocated based on public policy and societal benefit.

Answer 3

No. But if you are a rich, white American Republican, do you have the right to bring your nanny/housekeeper illegally into this country, pay her under the table so as not to pay your portion of the SS taxes, and keep complaining about the "illegals"? (Half of Grosse Pointe, MI has these "Illegals".
The part of this I don't understand is why is this suddenly in the forefront of so many peoples' minds (and I say "mind" lightly--seems many have already been wasted...)--Could it be because it's an election year? Could it be because the administration is having enough other problems and would like to distract us? Why are the illegals being blamed for trying to make a b etter life than the employers for enticing them, paying them, importing them???? Could this be any more like slavery? (Middle passage? Middle of the dessert deaths???)
Give the people here already amnesty and citizenship! Then do a better job of sealing our borders if that's what you want.
Why do people keep saying "they" and spouting bogus crime statistics? Why do people "hate" people they've never met? These are the racists!!!

Answer 4

I think it may be due largely to a language barrier issue. In English, "illegal" clearly means "against the law" or to commit a criminal act. However, in Spanish, I believe the term "illegal" gets confused for "el legal" which I think would roughly translate into "the legal" or to be lawful. As a result, aliens/immigrants coming from Mexico, Central America, or South America to the US(and who are here illegally) are rightfully upset when they are not welcomed by American citizens and/or deported for being here illegally because, as far as they're concerned, we even seem to be confirming that they followed proper immigration channels for coming here by calling them "el legal;" illegal in English has a negative meaning but "el legal" is something to be very proud of in Spanish- at least from what I can see. Anyway gokart, hope this cleared things up for you; thanks for a stimulating question that I could answer and LMAO as a result.

Answer 5

That is exactly the right question. And the answer is that a lot of illegals who are no legal in this country want their families to sneak in and join them.

That seems to be the reason they are so in favor of illegal immigration. And of course it is the reason we, who are not of Mexican extraction to be so concerned. Why should we allow our nation to become an extension of Mexico??

Answer 6

Mr. Kart, illegal Mexicans don't understand English. Do you know how to say illegal in Spanish? Daddy says we should start posting signs with illegal in Spanish and they would get it, a little. Daddy says illegal Mexicans are like sugar ants, you squish a bunch and they just run over one another to get ahead.

Answer 7

The same right you have to get mad when you get a ticket for speeding, reported for skipping class, or punished for braking curfew.
Close minded people like you are the reason this world needs "national security"

Answer 8

From the stand point of an American no. From the stand point of someone unfortunate enough to be born in a third world, politically oppressive or inherently hostile country....probably.

Answer 9

Of course not! (I am Mexican and live in Mexico, but I agree with Americans in the sense that we do not have the right to enter your country illegaly)

Answer 10

You nailed it... too bad people from other countries don't get it. Bad way to start out a relationship with a new country and its peoples, I think.