Immigration

How the Normalization of Modern Anti-Immigrant Sentiments Unfolded

For years, language like illegal aliens has dominated the conversation about immigration, leading to broad misconceptions

Photo by Chris Boese on Unsplash

Driving narratives about emigrating to the United States “the right way” while ignoring the law and what constitutes legal pathways is nothing less than spreading misinformation. To suggest that anyone who comes to the U.S. via its southern border with Mexico is an “illegal immigrant” is how so many get behind the inhumane and horrifying policy of mass deportations while overlooking the inherent violence such an idea involves.

What most major media outlets get wrong — some would argue intentionally — is that the vast majority of immigrants in the U.S. are here legally. They suddenly began ignoring that crossing the border anywhere, including between points of entry, and claiming asylum within one year of arriving, is perfectly legal. It’s not an illegal border crossing until then.

Additionally, once immigrants present themselves for inspection and are granted entry into the country, they are also legally in the U.S. Therefore, using language like “illegal immigrants” or even “undocumented” is not only inappropriate for the vast majority…