• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

"Criminal Immigrant" instead of "Illegal Immigrant"?

Criminal Immigrant vs Illegal Immigrant


  • Total voters
    27

Tucker Case

Matthew 16:3
DP Veteran
Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
45,596
Reaction score
22,536
Location
Everywhere and nowhere
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Progressive
An interesting idea occurred to me. The argument against the term "illegal immigrant" that has the most merit is that it is grammatically incorrect. I know that some people disagree, but their disagreement is irrelvent to this thread (so I am asking people to please refrain from ****ing up this thread by trying to defend or attack the term "illegal immigrant"). This thread is about whether or not people find the undeniably grammatically accurate term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative to "illegal immigrant".

Please vote in the poll. The options are:

I support the use of the term "Illegal Immigrant", but I do find term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative.

I support the use of the term "Illegal Immigrant", but I do NOT find term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative.

I do NOT support the term "Illegal Immigrant", but I do find the term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative.

I do NOT support the use of the term "Illegal Immigrant", and I do NOT find term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative.

Other
 
An interesting idea occurred to me. The argument against the term "illegal immigrant" that has the most merit is that it is grammatically incorrect. I know that some people disagree, but their disagreement is irrelvent to this thread (so I am asking people to please refrain from ****ing up this thread by trying to defend or attack the term "illegal immigrant"). This thread is about whether or not people find the undeniably grammatically accurate term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative to "illegal immigrant".

Please vote in the poll. The options are:

I support the use of the term "Illegal Immigrant", but I do find term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative.

I support the use of the term "Illegal Immigrant", but I do NOT find term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative.

I do NOT support the term "Illegal Immigrant", but I do find the term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative.

I do NOT support the use of the term "Illegal Immigrant", and I do NOT find term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative.

Other

Criminal and illegal are basically synonyms here.

How about "unauthorized immigrant"?
 
Criminal and illegal are basically synonyms here.

The main difference being that a person cannot be illegal, but a person can be a criminal. That's why one is grammatically correct, while the other isn't.
 
The push to change is because the Liberals are losing the amnesty argument so anything that still indicates the twelve million illegals have entered the country by breaking our laws will not be acceptable.

To the loons, the new label must be innocuous, even complimentary. Nothing else will do.
 
Both just immigrants in my book.
 
Both just immigrants in my book.

How about we stop calling them immigrants (which should be saved for only those who filled out some sort of immigration or worker's program papers) and just start calling them non-citizens or illegal residents.
 
How about Criminal Alien. That's a winner.
 
how about just criminal? :shrug:

i am fine with both names though, they may not be grammatically accurate but that's fine by me

illegals
criminals
illegal immigrant
criminal immigrant
illegal foreigners
illegal non citizens
criminal non-citizens
etc etc

never really go the debate over the term

the are breaking the law period
 
The main difference being that a person cannot be illegal, but a person can be a criminal. That's why one is grammatically correct, while the other isn't.

Well, that's not really right. In both cases, they are adjectives (as opposed to your usage right above as a noun) modifying "immigrant". In fact, I'd say using "criminal immigrant" in a sentence would be incorrect and poor usage.

Jose and his family are criminal immigrants.

Jose and his family are unauthorized immigrants.

I like mine better. ;)
 
The main difference being that a person cannot be illegal, but a person can be a criminal. That's why one is grammatically correct, while the other isn't.

As long as the INTENT to avert any US immigration screening is implied, I agree with the term. Changing it to "undocumented" is simply a lie (90% of the time) since these folks usually have documents that they simply would rather not present. My main objection to federal immigration law enforcement is not going after those that hire them. Too many folks want to play "secure the border" nonsense yet allow nearly anyone in for a vacation, brief visit or a "one day" shopping trip that can then easily "dissappear" once "legally" accross the border.
 
We aren't really addressing someone's person-hood though. We are addressing their legal status in a country.

So yes, illegal immigrant and criminal immigrant are both accurate terms and not really offensive, just the truth. It's just formed a negative connotation.
 
I think we should just call them "Al Qaeda Affiliates" an unleash Eric Holder's Drone Air Force on them......rat ta tat tat......
 
How about we stop calling them immigrants (which should be saved for only those who filled out some sort of immigration or worker's program papers) and just start calling them non-citizens or illegal residents.

Non-citizens doesn't work because A. Millions of immigrants who came here legally are non-citizens and B. Billions of non-citizens never bother to come here at all.
 
The main difference being that a person cannot be illegal, but a person can be a criminal. That's why one is grammatically correct, while the other isn't.

I agree with this. I pointed this out yesterday claiming humans can not be illegal.
 
And how bout Criminal Employer?
 
We aren't really addressing someone's person-hood though. We are addressing their legal status in a country.
So yes, illegal immigrant and criminal immigrant are both accurate terms and not really offensive, just the truth. It's just formed a negative connotation.

To me saying criminal immigrant does not address their legal status. It tell me that yes, they are an immigrant and a criminal, but that doesn't define their status as illegal or unauthorized does. I know immigrants who are legal and illegal and are both criminals, so how would calling the illegal one a "criminal immigrant" differentiate from the legal immigrant who is also a criminal immigrant to show their status?
 
An interesting idea occurred to me. The argument against the term "illegal immigrant" that has the most merit is that it is grammatically incorrect. I know that some people disagree, but their disagreement is irrelvent to this thread (so I am asking people to please refrain from ****ing up this thread by trying to defend or attack the term "illegal immigrant"). This thread is about whether or not people find the undeniably grammatically accurate term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative to "illegal immigrant".

Please vote in the poll. The options are:

I support the use of the term "Illegal Immigrant", but I do find term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative.

I support the use of the term "Illegal Immigrant", but I do NOT find term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative.

I do NOT support the term "Illegal Immigrant", but I do find the term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative.

I do NOT support the use of the term "Illegal Immigrant", and I do NOT find term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative.

Other

Illegal entry into the country is indeed criminal because a first offense can get you six months in jail which is a misdemeanor criminal offense and additional offenses can get you two years in jail which is a felony criminal offense. As far as I know overstaying a visa is not a criminal offense but merely a civil offense since you only face fines and deportation and can not go to jail or prison over it(I could be wrong on this part so if anyone knows anything please corrent me and post the relavant information). While most illegals are those who came across the border illegally and therefore are criminals, there are some who came here legally on a visa and overstaying their visa are not criminals. The term criminal aliens/immigrant does not distinguish those who are here illegally and those who are here legally and have committed a crime. Nor does it cover illegals who are here because they came in legally and overstayed their visa. So I will stick to "illegals", "illegal immigrants" or illegal aliens".


Illegal Immigration IS A CRIME!
Under Title 8 Section 1325 of the U.S. Code, "Improper Entry by Alien," any citizen of any country other than the United States who:

Enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers; or

Eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers; or

Attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact;
has committed a federal crime.

Violations are punishable by criminal fines and imprisonment for up to six months. Repeat offenses can bring up to two years in prison. Additional civil fines may be imposed at the discretion of immigration judges, but civil fines do not negate the criminal sanctions or nature of the offense.
 
Last edited:
An interesting idea occurred to me. The argument against the term "illegal immigrant" that has the most merit is that it is grammatically incorrect. I know that some people disagree, but their disagreement is irrelvent to this thread (so I am asking people to please refrain from ****ing up this thread by trying to defend or attack the term "illegal immigrant"). This thread is about whether or not people find the undeniably grammatically accurate term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative to "illegal immigrant".

Please vote in the poll. The options are:

I support the use of the term "Illegal Immigrant", but I do find term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative.

I support the use of the term "Illegal Immigrant", but I do NOT find term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative.

I do NOT support the term "Illegal Immigrant", but I do find the term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative.

I do NOT support the use of the term "Illegal Immigrant", and I do NOT find term "Criminal Immigrant" to be an acceptable alternative.

Other

As far as I know, being present illegally in the US is not a criminal offense (but rather a civil offense, this includes both crossing the border illegally and overstaying one's visa). Contrary to what others have said in this thread, the words "illegal" and "criminal" are not equivalent. For instance, speeding is illegal but not usually criminal.

Therefore I don't believe the phrase "criminal immigrant" can be an accurate replacement for "illegal alien."

It can apply to a legal immigrant who has committed a crime, violent or otherwise. It can apply to an unauthorized immigrant who has committed an actual crime. As far as how to describe a person who is simply in the country illegally, whether by illegally crossing the border or overstaying one's visa, I think in the other thread that in the article I posted someone posed the alternative "unauthorized migrant."
 
Last edited:
To me saying criminal immigrant does not address their legal status. It tell me that yes, they are an immigrant and a criminal, but that doesn't define their status as illegal or unauthorized does. I know immigrants who are legal and illegal and are both criminals, so how would calling the illegal one a "criminal immigrant" differentiate from the legal immigrant who is also a criminal immigrant to show their status?

Ah, okay I understand your perspective. When you put it that way it does make a lot of sense to differentiate people who come here legally and who are criminals, and other variations. I retract my statement from before. When it comes to their legal status in this country we should keep it to illegal immigrant.
 
Well, that's not really right. In both cases, they are adjectives (as opposed to your usage right above as a noun) modifying "immigrant". In fact, I'd say using "criminal immigrant" in a sentence would be incorrect and poor usage.





I like mine better. ;)

Excellent point. One is less grammatically incorect than the other (it doesn't require a whole new specific noun to be invented in order to be somewhat accurate like illegal requires). Both of them have grammatical flaws, though.

I agree that yours is better, by the way. I'm really just testing a hypothesis.
 
The one that I actually prefer most of all is "Undocumented Immigrant." It does not label the person as illegal or criminal, simply that they lack documentation.

I think the whole argument is silly though, and given the choice between illegal and criminal, I prefer illegal.
 
Well, illegal alien is a proper term with a clear meaning; "illegal immigrant" is not.

I can only presume we got to this status quo because of political correctness surrounding the word "alien," leading to the oddball "illegal immigrant."
 
Back
Top Bottom