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

[KimGym]

I find this absolutely sickening!!!! It’s a disgraceful term to use and I feel as though if the US are going to use this disgusting terminology, it should at the very least, be censored in other countries. It is so disrespectful and dehumanising. It’s this sort of language that leads people (hopefully only those who have lacked a basic education) to deem immigrants to be sub human, and paves the way for public acceptance of them being treated in a sub human manner. AIBU to think this is totally abhorrant?

They have always used that term I remember them using it in the 80’s. We can’t just say ‘you know that term you’ve been using forever? please stop now!’

Have just re-read, and my title might be a bit off. I don’t really mean that we’re “allowing” them, since we can’t really control the words they use. I just worry about a ripple effect of allowing this sort of hate speech to be so dominant in msm.

It's always been the term they used. Sting sang about it in Englishman in New York

In this instance the definition of alien is not being born of that country, they’re not literally calling them green beings from outer space

Historically, there have been lots of terms used to describe minority groups, that we have moved on from, because we have learned and realises they are not acceptable terms. Why is this any different?

I understand that. It’s dehumanising, and I believe in this day and age, the use of this term should be stopped.

Mandy Patinkin starred in the film Alien Nation, which title played with the term, back when my hair still had colour.

It doesn't mean something negative, it's just a factual/legal description. We just use other terms in the UK. If it was racist/dehumanising you can bet Reform would be using it, and I haven't noticed that they have.

It’s an anachronistic term, but not an insulting one. Look up alien in the dictionary and it’s more than beings from outer space.

Aliens can be human, and illegal.

They can't even call home...

Its a term the US has used for as long as I can remember. I think its even used in their immigration laws.

Not sure why you think it's within the remit of the UK to police language used by another country? The term 'alien' is used routinely in the US to describe someone not born in the US. My BIL lives in Florida and his ID card identities him as a 'resident alien'!

Why do you think that "we" should control how people speak and think? That's very extreme.

Why do you think its dehumanising? Its just a word with the same specific meaning as immigrant.

We absolutely can tell them to stop, there are lots of terms that were deemed acceptable in the past that are no longer tolerated. Illegal Alien is a disgusting term and I hate it every time they say it.

You are outraged for the wrong reasons. Just because you are offended by it doesn't make if offensive. No one in North America sees it as derogatory. You are picking up on a term you don’t understand in the context.

How about xenoi, if we’re rejecting Latin etymology?

They are not being likened to extraterrestrials, it’s the historical US language used in law.

’Alien’ just means a person who’s not a citizen or a national of the USA.

Language norms are shifting and it’s not as popular a term as it once was, but that doesn’t make it offensive.

Stop crawling up the walls and worring about America unless you live there.
We can't tell any country what phases they should use just because we don't agree with them.. Im sure Sigoney Weaver isn't bothered and she has come across a lot of Aliens.

Because Alien doesn't mean "creature from space" but "person from elsewhere" in this context and most people are well aware of that

Do you feel alienated by the word?

Back when I was a student here in the U.K. foreign students had to register as aliens at the police station. It’s a standard term for non-nationals of a country.

The Americans have always used that term as far back as anyone can remember. According to the OED, one of the definitions of alien is "A person who is not a citizen of the state in which they live or work." So it is apt. And, as it's always been common parlance in the States, nobody makes the same connotations as you. It's just a word to describe someone who isn't an American citizen and it applies to everyone whether Canadian, British, Mexican or Nigerian. It has no connection to race or social status.

Yep, to reiterate what other posters have said, they've always used this term. I studied for a year and I was called a student alien. Even in their welcome meeting to international students we were referred to as aliens. It's nothing new although yes, it is a bit weird to be called that!