Illegal versus Undocumented

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Citizens for Limited Taxation

Illegal versus Undocumented Saturday, January 1, 2005

Kristin Kyrka, Holliston Metrowest Daily News

I am writing in response to David McLaughlin's article, "South of the Border" (Dec. 29), and in particular, his use of the term "illegal immigrant." While entry into the United States without proper documentation and screening is, indeed, against the law, the implication of labeling these people as "illegal" is a dangerous one. To label any human being as " illegal" is degrading and robs the person of his or her humanity and basic right to exist. This may seem like a picky, semantic issue, but it is the difference between naming an action and naming a person. Actions are illegal, human beings are not. Do we call people who have robbed banks or stolen cars "illegal citizens?" No, we call them people who have committed illegal acts. So, why can't we do the same for immigrants who commit crimes? By referring to these people as "undocumented" instead of "illegal," we can still acknowledge and name their actions as illegal (if we choose to do so) while at the same time affirming their humanity, their basic right to exist, and asserting that no human being is illegal.

Illegal versus Undocumented	Saturday, January 1, 2005
Kristin Kyrka, Holliston	Metrowest Daily News
I am writing in response to David McLaughlin's article, "South of the Border" (Dec. 29), and in particular, his use of the term "illegal immigrant." While entry into the United States without proper documentation and screening is, indeed, against the law, the implication of labeling these people as "illegal" is a dangerous one. To label any human being as " illegal" is degrading and robs the person of his or her humanity and basic right to exist. This may seem like a picky, semantic issue, but it is the difference between naming an action and naming a person. Actions are illegal, human beings are not. Do we call people who have robbed banks or stolen cars "illegal citizens?" No, we call them people who have committed illegal acts. So, why can't we do the same for immigrants who commit crimes? By referring to these people as "undocumented" instead of "illegal," we can still acknowledge and name their actions as illegal (if we choose to do so) while at the same time affirming their humanity, their basic right to exist, and asserting that no human being is illegal.

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