There are many terms in our country that people would consider today as being offensive. This would include the popular "N-word" or "F-word" euphemisms that people will say rather than allowing others to hear the full (and usually highly offensive) term. What is interesting; however, is the fact that in light of all of the immigration talk and push for reform, there are many people who are claiming that the term "illegal immigrant" is in the same category, and that it should be banished from being used in discussion.

What is the argument, then? Those who are against the use of the term claim that it is a politically incorrect statement that is offensive to those who are placed into that category. One of the objections is that to technically be considered an immigrant you have the desire to move somewhere permanently, and for many of these foreign individuals, they are here for a while (for work or education, for example) and then they plan to return home to their families. Another individual who works as an anthropology professor at a state university claims that this term doesn't work well on many levels, because it is more of an oxymoron rather than a legal term.

When discussing cases regarding immigration a person of the law will lily never use the phrase "illegal immigrant" because there is really no such thing as a fully illegal immigrant in the first place; because once you are here in the states you were technically legally allowed to enter the country. One activist for immigration reform, and now also the fight to have this phrase banned from being used, says that this term when used is a racial tactic used to stimulate an environment of hate and violence between races.

One individual claims that he is from a family of 25 Americans and even as the grandson he is the only undocumented one into his family here in the states. When he heard the phrase "illegal immigrant" (though he has been into the U.S. since he was a child) he feels as though it is offending and that it essentially dehumanizes him. He states "no human being is illegal." Apparently this same person came out of the closet that he was undocumented just last year and has taken an active role to reform immigration rights in the country, since.

A good point that is made regarding the term is that it is one thing to label someone as a "murderer" if they have in fact committed the act and there is proof. The reason this couldn't be considered a slur is because it is about the person's actions that they willingly chose to do rather than branding the entire person as being illegal. The majority of these individuals would much rather hear the term "undocumented" rather than "illegal" if they are to be labeled at all.

One professor of political science claims that whether a person is using the term "illegal immigrant", "illegals", etc. Will greatly reflect on the professionalism and where people politically stand in the matter of immigration reform as a whole. This argument, though it has much to do with the issues of grammar and the affects the euphemism has not eh people, it also points to a much larger issue at hand—immigration reform.

In the event that you are in need of legal representation for any of your immigration concerns or needs, contact an immigration attorney in your area who is skilled specifically in this area of law. Please use this website to find the attorney best suited for your legal needs near you!