I often hear them referred to as “illegals.” I hear news stations reporting on “illegal immigration” as if it were Mad Cow Disease. And I wonder about this term “illegal.”
- If I hire my neighbor’s 13 year old son to mow my lawn and pay him in cash, am I an illegal employer? Is he an illegal worker? What if I pay my niece to babysit?
- If I drive with expired plates, expired license, no insurance, am I an illegal driver? What if I do have valid license and registration but do 80mph the entire trip and don’t get caught? I have broken the law, but does that make me an illegal? What if a policeman pulls me over and asks me if I know how fast I was going and I lie?
- I travel to the U.S. with a valid visa but stay past its expiration date. I stay with rich friends and enjoy my time for an extra month. Am I an illegal?
- I live in Canada but cross the border daily to work construction and get paid in cash. Am I an illegal?
- I travel from México to visit my brother in Arizona. I decide to stay and live (not work) with my family indefinitely. Am I an illegal?
- I study K-12 in California, graduate top of my class, speak un-accented English, but lack a U.S. birth certificate because I was brought to California at age 2. Am I an illegal?
- I drive to México for a weekend trip and forget to declare the avocados I bought when I return. Am I an illegal, or just the avocados?
- I stop to enjoy the shade outside a Home Depot. I am dark skinned, wear a cowboy hat and boots. Am I an illegal?
In my mind, the only common thread that deems someone “illegal” is that they look Mexican (also read Latino, Hispanic, Nonwhite, Other). These people are foreigners and Americans (suffering from historical amnesia) don’t like immigrants. These people don’t belong here. Close the border and deport the illegals! It’s plain and simple racism. If you get caught with your pants down in public, it’s called “indecent exposure.” If you walk across the middle of a street it’s called “jaywalking.” If you let your auto registration lapse, you get a fix-it ticket. But if you have an expired visa you’re an “illegal.” Is there something morally abhorent about visa violations?
If you don’t think you’re racist towards Mexicans, here’s a litmus test for your next dinner party conversation on “illegals.” Try getting your point across without using demonizing terms like “illegal” to describe them. Be specific. Who exactly are you talking about? What exactly is their crime?
Seems like a shame to use a fear-inducing label like this only on one group of people. Perhaps we should consider broadening its use.
