What to Call What We Are
 

Illegals
Illegal Immigrants
Illegal Aliens
Undocumented Immigrants

These are what we are known as by others.

For my whole life I have called myself an illegal immigrant or "an alien here." But I have been scolded by someone of my own kind for the first time ever for"insulting all undocumenteds" because I used such words to describe myself. I have always used these words and did not know that there existed a people who were offended by them. I see undocumented as a softer word...yes... but I don't think it honest. Changing what we are called doesn't change what we are, or what we did: we are human beings who broke the immigration laws of the USA, however strict and cruel those laws might have been. We are here "illegally" and can face apprehension and deportation at any time.

I will continue to call myself these words. Not because it helps a cause, but because that is what I am -- and that is who I am fighting for. I have to be true to myself because if I can't do that, I can't ever help myself get out this slump I have been living in for fifteen years. I have to accept what I am, and fight for myself on that basis. I am an illegal immigrant and an alien here.

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My mother and I know that we're illegal immigrants but I always choose the word "undocumented" because it's less harsh and it gives the impression that my mother and I either lost our documents or those documents didn't arrive or weren't received.

If we use the word "illegal" it implies that we're strictly in violation of the law which isn't possible in our case.

Use the word "undocumented". It draws sympathy and it's not as harsh as "illegal". :smile:

The only people who use "illegal alien/immigrant" are those who don't want illegal immigrants here. :evil:

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i'm really really saddened that you are willing to label yourself with stigmatized words thought up and propagated by people who hate immigrants. please, educate yourself on how nativists use hate speech to dupe everyone, including us. when we start seeing ourselves as sub-human and unworthy of respectful words, they win.

please watch this:

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This guy is probably an anti-immigrant troll.

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Calling myself undocumented doesn't change me being illegal, and calling myself illegal doesn't change me being undocumented. I'm not going to use a label just because "it helps draw sympathy." I want the same respect as anyone else gets. Hollow sympathy isn't included in that. Calling myself "undocumented" makes it sound like I came here as a legal resident and I just didn't receive my 'documents' due to a paperwork error or something, and that just ain't the truth, my man.

dreamerhippie: We are using codewords too! They are codewords of misdirection, though. And that isn't what we should be about.

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I don't call myself an illegal alien because
1- it's not my fault I don't have papers.
And 2-because I consider myself American. I grew up here and can't imagine living my adult life in a country other than the US.

So I call myself undocumented because I'm as American as any other kid my age, only I don't have the papers to fully live my life. And again, that's not my fault.

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We, the undocumented, need to use language that draws sympathy.

Do really think that the average citizen is going to support someone who considers himself/herself to be an illegal? Of course no!!!

That's why we must always use words such as "undocumented", "in the shadows", or something that's not as harsh as "illegal".

Again, the only people who use the word "illegal immigrant/alien" are those who don't want us undocumented to be here.

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We need to be honest with both ourselves and the people we appeal to. The truth wins in the end. I will call myself what feels natural for me to do. I am an illegal immigrant, an alien, who is seeking understanding from the government of the USA to realize that I did not make my family's decision to come here six years ago. That is what I am. There is nothing wrong with that, that needs to be masked by carefully picked out words. It is the burden we bear.

To the person who called me a troll: you're a fool, so what-thefuck-ever to you. I came here from the UK at age 15, and things have been very difficult for us here. No money, no status. We are living a lie to all the people in our neighborhood who assume that just because we are English, that we not only are legal residents in the USA but also that we are well-to-do. You have no idea what it is like to keep up the appearances that we are expected to keep up in front of people here. It is not easier when you don't "wear" your illegal status on your skin, regardless of what those of you who do may think.

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at the risk of explaining the blatantly obvious: every word has a loaded meaning behind it. calling ourselves "undocumented immigrants" isn't a code word of hate because it's describes us rather well. we are foreign-born people who lack documentation at the present moment. i don't see what's being misrepresented. this is in contrast to "illegal aliens" which ascertains both criminality and being non-human, and as such, is totally a code word for hate and is definitely meant to misdirect people and scare them into not questioning why they're using those words to describe people in their community.

as an immigrant for the UK, i'm fairly certain you came here on a visa and simply overstayed. you should know that illegal presence is in fact NOT prosecuted as a crime in the US legal system; it's a civil issue, not a criminal one. when you call yourself a criminal based on you lack of status, you are doing it without warrant. again, please educate yourself on the hate speech and subversive tactics and words used against us to instill fear and distrust in the general populous, who by and large fall for it like sheep.

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From the UK? If you came on a visa which later expired wouldn't that imply that your family is quite well-off because poor people are almost always incapable of being issued visas.

Anyway, if you use the word "illegal immigrant/alien" do you honestly think the average person (who doesn't know about the DREAM Act) will sympathize with you? Illegal is bad word for someone who ran across the border or overstayed a visa.

Using less harsh words such as "undocumented", "in the shadows", or anything similar is a necessity to gain someone's sympathy. Using the word "illegal" may cause someone to question our statuses and views.

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How the hell does calling yourself an illegal alien help in passing the dream act or CIR. I don't give a damn if you want to call yourself an illegal alien or an illegal, but don't start a thread advocating that we use those same hateful words .

Re: What to Call What We Are
 

I get it that you feel strongly about not having papers; we all do. It is painful and humilliating. But remember that some Dreamies came here when they were just a few months old. They identify more with the American culture than someone who came here at age 15. They are more stigmatized by their unlawful status because they really do see themselves as Americans.

"Illegal alien/immigrant" is a term mostly used by those who are against us, who don't want us here and are trying to portray us as criminals. If you choose to call youself that, fine. But try to understand why we prefer to use the term "undocumented."

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But there's a difference though right? Undocumented is coming to a country legally but overstaying and illegal means entering a county without permission.

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Exactly!

If we use words that don't positively portray our cause then we will lose out on gaining sympathy from the masses and the undecided.

Using "illegal alien/immigrant" will only hurt our cause and may compel people to question why they should assist an "illegal alien/immigrant".

We don't need that, do we?! :???:

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I really don't care what I'm called. I mean, I guess I can see how it can be hurtful, but I think it depends on how someone says "illegal immigrant/alien." I am not really hurt or offended by it unless someone says it to be condescending or offensive.

To me, it's just a word/label. And whether someone calls me illegal or undocumented doesn't change my situation or what I've been through. Yeah, it's not my fault I'm even here, but still that doesn't change the fact that I'm here without status. It also doesn't mean that I feel unworthy or like a second class citizen.

I say it sometimes without even realizing it, so sorry I'm guys if I ever offended you. It was not my intention. But anyways, if it offends people in the forum, I won't use it. No biggie. :-D

And what is up with "we need to call ourselves something that draws sympathy"? Umm.. We don't need Americans feeling sorry for us. We need to them to understand that we want to contribute to this country and aren't not just trying to collect benefits. Sympathy isn't going to get us anywhere. As long as they know that we didn't come here by choice and that we simply want to succeed, we will be fine. I don't want people feeling sorry for me.

The average citizen is going to support someone who wants to contribute to their country and going to make a positive impact. They don't want people who think "poor me."

Come on. People like that are the reason that so many Americans aren't for the DA. :roll:

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It shouldn't matter.

Regardless of whether someone ran across the border or overstayed his/her visa, we all need to use the word "undocumented" and never "illegal".

We cannot afford to put ourselves into the categories of border crossers or visa over-stayers. Doing so may cause a rift within our community.

Re: What to Call What We Are
 

Dreamah, I'm a pimp, a mathematical gangstah, a true economic thug. That is what I is!!! Shhhh oh and I'm also undocumented, but that is neither here nor there if you catch my drift!!!

Re: What to Call What We Are
 

Thank GOD you're not advocating publicly for the DA. I would hate to be represented by someone with your views.


We are in those categories. It's important we own up to the fact that we are here, whether we are at fault or not. We can't pretend we just appeared here or something.

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:roll: Some of you are in denial when it comes to your own status. The truth is the truth.

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It's not "denial" it's that some words have a more negative connotation than others. I'd rather be called undocumented than illegal, even though "the truth is the truth"

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I don't take this shit personal. But we are living in a "White man's world" just like 2Pac said!!!

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The truth is that I don't have documentation, but the important things is that I am a pimp and no one can take that away from me.

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Maybe not you, but some are. And the pathetic thing is that they think that appeals to Americans.

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Oi, some of you catch my drift. 8)

The point is that illegal immigrant or illegal alien are not themselves "words of hate." There are a couple close friends of mine who are aware of my status and they refer to those terms off-handedly at times. They do not mean them hatefully and they certainly do not hate me!

It's not pity I want, like Jolie's saying. I abhor the very idea of it. And I doubt that such words as "undocumented" truly instill pity in other people's hearts anyway. Personally (and you may disagree with this) the word "undocumented" seems to me like it condones what the parents of illegal immigrant children have done -- and no one likes that attitude either. And though I don't hate my parents for it, but I don't think it is okay to come here illegally or "without documents" (isn't that the same thing?).

Can't we support the DREAM act, without supporting illegal immigration too? Or do we have to be 'pro illegal immigration.' We have to accept that what our parents did was a violation, that it was not okay, and seek understanding for *we* their children on that basis. It was not us who made the decision.

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Exactly, that's what i'm talking about. Pimp #2 here 8-)

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^I understand that. "Undocumented immigrants" sounds better.

Illegal means not according to or authorized by law. Are we authorized by law to be here? No!

God bless America for being a country where we can go to bed without worry about ICE knocking on our doors. However, we are here in this country illegally. Those with documents are considered "Resident aliens" "legal immigrants" and so forth.

By no way do I want to force my beliefs on anyone on this forum. We are all here to support the passage of the Dream Act. This situation is depressing as it is but I cannot suggest that I am here as an "undocumented alien" when custom officials have records of me being here. I am in this country illegally because I overstayed. That is my truth maybe not your own.

Please don't shoot me. This is my opinion, and mines alone. Everyone has the right to one.

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I want to add, that perhaps it is true that my entry here as an overstayer was not illegal itself... but telling me that I am not one of you on that basis is ridiculous. I am in the same boat, with the same problems, the same limitations, even if I came at an older age and on a basis that, originally, was legal.

Re: What to Call What We Are
 

Do not feed the troll. Fucken a, new account and brings up this heated debate. We use the term undocumented immigrants because it does not have all the negative connotation that "illegal" does. We don't need that shit, now get the fuck out.

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I'm not pro illegal immigration, but I'd feel like a hypocite to say that I'm against it since my family and I came here that way. How can I say that once I'm legal that they should make life harder for people coming here illegaly or receive harsher punishment? That would be very selfish of me, not to mention very fucked up.

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I agree with you on this point. I'm still pimp though!

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Troll? Wow....I am out then!:confused:

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Oh good grief.

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It doesn't matter if you Crossed the border or overstayed!!! We are all here illegally not knowing if you might get caught today or tomorrow.

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hahaha.

Troll or not, I've always wondered why people get so offended by a word.

But I get what you guys are saying. I guess it takes a lot more than being called "illegal" to offend me.

Re: What to Call What We Are
 

So as soon as someone has a slightly different opinion than you..they are automatically a troll?

We shouldn't behave like our opposition does.

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Yah, this doesn't even belong in this forum anyways. Please lock. See ya later, Ellen.

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That's true, and I never thought of it that way. Some of us did come here on documents. Those documents are expired now... but they are documented all the same. 8)

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I saw troll because it was a new account, if it had been brought up by someone that had been here for a while, such as yourself, I wouldn't have.

Besides, call yourself what you want, it's just good PR that we call ourselves undocumented. That is all.

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What's astounding is that my alleged "troll" opinion is agreed upon and supported by others in this forum. ;)

How small and narrow minded some people behave.