Why are we allowing the US to call illegal immigrants “illegal aliens”?

It’s not a uniquely American word. You can be a legal or an illegal alien.

It doesn’t mean someone from outer space.

@KimGym OP I think you’re under the impression that the word alien was specifically created to describe little green men from Mars (or the like). It wasn’t.

Google tells me it appeared first in the English language in the 14th century, meaning someone from another country or stranger/foreigner. Make yourself a cup of tea, take a deep breath and know that we all learn something new every day.

With the current government in America, it’s highly likely they are talking about people who are not white.

Exactly. Quentin Crisp wrote a charming book called "Resident Alien" back in the 90s. It's not as if "illegal alien" and "resident alien" are new terms in the US. The popular American TV show "Resident Alien" plays on the name.

Hopefully, we are past the peak of cancelling every time an overly senstive person is feeling offended on behalf of others. 🤞

How do you think Starmer or Farage would handle that sort of immigration crisis?!

An alien isn’t a particilar group though. If I was illegally in the US I too would be an alien but that doesn’t mean you know what race, colour, religion, nationality, social status, age, sex I am.

Careful, OP will be calling for Sting to be “cancelled”

How do you know aliens aren’t beautiful and smart, I’m sure they’re not all little green beings or ET lookalikes. And without the word we wouldn't have that great song from Sting.

I’ve never come across anyone ever who took umbrage at this word.

This is it exactly.

I understand where you’re coming from, OP, but I think people are getting weary of the never-ending ‘correction’ of language, particularly in relation to minorities. It’s just endless word games. I really don’t believe that the phrase ‘undocumented migrants’ (the approved term currently) will change anyone’s mind on immigration issues. And I wouldn’t be surprised if that term falls out of favour in the next few months.

There must be more practical things we can do than froth continually over the words people use.

This. It's hardly new.

When I was a kid I thought Sting was singing about evil aliens 😂

”I’m an alien, I’m a legal alien, I’m an English man in New York” (Sting, 1987).

Ha! My nephew lives in US for a long time - had a green card. Delighted in telling everyone he was a legal alien!

This thread's complaint is an alien concept which must be alienated. It is alien to my understanding. It's not about little green men (aliens), which in context isn't the first thing which comes to mind.

At some point, the word “immigrant” will probably carry negative connotations for some people, not everyone, and that’s because of the context around it, not the word itself. If we keep changing language every time that happens, we’re eventually going to run out of useful, meaningful words.

I personally don’t have a problem with using the word “alien” in its literal sense as a descriptor. The negative meaning some people attach to it is very different from how I understand it. When I hear it, I’m definitely not thinking little green men or sci-fi, those associations just aren’t there for me, what are the connotations you are attaching to it?

I get called this in England by English people - its not just Americans who use it...

Anyone who thinks of Martians when discussing immigration is off their trolley.

Thank you for raaising a smile on a wet weekday morning, @HeadyLamarr

Come on. It's a difference in language between the US and the UK. Just like pavement/sidewalk or supermarket/grocery store.

In the US they talk about "handicapped parking spaces" which would not be appropriate terminology here, where we would say "disabled parking space". You cannot start demanding another country change what language is acceptable there because you don't like it.

P.S. Nobody tell her about fanny packs.

I'm not a fan of 'British subject' either.

Leviticus 19:33-35

(International Standard Version)

“If a resident alien lives with you in your land, you are not to mistreat him. 34 You are to treat the resident alien the same way you treat the native born among you—love him like yourself, since you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

This must be the stupidest thread I’ve read on here. Not only objecting to the correct use of a word, but imagining that we have any say in ‘allowing’ the US to do anything!

Because it’s not being used as a derogatory term to bring down a race of people like the N word for example.

aliens just refers to them not being from that country. It’s been used for the longest time. I really don’t think it’s a big deal

The US does use language differently to us though.

I work in finance and the word “delinquent” pops up a lot in the context “you’re late sending a mandatory statutory return “.

Here we just thinking of delinquents as naughty teenagers!

I'm an alien spouse on my greencard application lol. It's not offensive.

What is wrong with ex pat please?