Could someone explain the specifics of what it means to be both an "illegal" alien and a "legal" alien?
823989
The specifics are spelled out in the United States Federal Laws they say, there is only the "legal immigrant" and the "illegal aliens".  \n\nThere is no such thing as an undocumented worker or immigrant that is just in the distorted minds of illegal aliens supporters!\n \nFEDERAL LAW:\n\nThe law: US Code Title 8, Chapter 12, subchapter I section 1101 &\nsubchapter II section 1325\n\nImmigrant: an individual who has received permission to enter and\npermanently reside in the US. The written permission document issued\nby the US government to the immigrant after successfully completing\nrequired health tests, financial checks, and criminal investigations\nis called a visa.\n\n\nAlien: an individual in the US who is not a US citizen. After\nentering the US, the "immigrant" becomes an alien.\n\nIllegal alien: Anyone in the US in violation of the law. The illegal\nalien has intentionally chosen to violate the law and lacks the\nevidence VISA that they have observed all US laws in entering and\nremaining in the country.\n\nMost illegal aliens enter via the US-Mexico border, either alone or\nwith a smuggler. Other illegal aliens entered the US legally under a\nstudent, tourist or other temporary visa (promising to leave at the\nend of their "visit") and chose to remain after their visa expired.\nWhen the temporary visitor chose to "overstay" their visa, they\nbecame an illegal alien. Their original "legal" entry doesn't give\nthem upgraded status from the more common illegal border-crosser.\n\nBoth are illegal aliens, both are violating US immigration laws, and\nboth are subject to deportation.
210857
Ditto to hobbit.  If it's worth it enough, you'll do it right. You're welcomed to come, but do it legally. You are not above the law. You cannot come here illegally and expect us to look the other way "because you're only here to work hard at the jobs no one else wants," And then turn around and demand a living wage or unionize to bully your way to a better salary like the farmworkers and the hotelworkers have done. Do you want to be above the law? Than you can't expect the law to be on your side when it would work to your benefit.
334111
Illegal=wrong\n\nNot a hard concept to understand...
317949
Illegal immigrants are those who choose to go against the law.\nSlaves are forced to work by those who go against the law.
472186
Does your friend have legal or illegal status? If she is legal, she has nothing to worry about. If she is illegal, she should do whatever is necessary to gain legal status before she does have to go.\n\nThe United States is a nation of laws. We cannot pick and choose which laws we follow, or the very fabric which holds our country together will begin to unravel.\n\nTo those who say we should "overlook" this law because so many have been here so long, I ask these questions:\n\nWhat if an illegal immigrant (NOT undocumented worker) is hungry? Is it alright to allow him to steal to fill his belly?\n\nWhat if an illegal immigrant has to get to work? Is it alright for him to steal a car to get there?\n\nWhat if an illegal immigrant is missing the señora and feeling a little randy? Is it okay for him to commit rape to satisfy those urges?\n\nWhy is it different, then, when it comes to breaking immigration laws? A law is a law is a law. We cannot pick and choose which laws we allow to be broken vs. those ones we follow.\n\nIf you do not like the immigration laws, elect someone who will change them. Until then, every illegal immigrant in this country is a slap in the face to those who immigrate legally. Immigration to the United States is not easy - it is not supposed to be.\n\nThere is no "right" to be able to immigrate here. You have to earn it. As with anything, that which is worth having is worth working for.
733239
Please do not oversimplify the matter. There is a huge difference between legal and ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
237073
An alien is a foreign born person who has not qualified as a citizen of the country; but an alien is a person within the meaning of the due process clause of the U. S. Constitution to the same extent as a citizen.
871764
there is a very very slight technical difference between the two but the words are essentially synonimous..i agree illegal alien is just a way to increase the pro american anti everyone else feeling
341871
What part of ILLEGAL do you not understand. Legal immigrants are welcomed every day. ILLEGAL aliens go home.
9269
Legal immigrants: Welcome to America.  Illegal Immigrants: welcome to jail and deportation.  \n\nFor a society to exist therule of law needs to be in place, other wise you have anarchy, which leads to tyrany
731478
illegal or legal?\n\nillegal: \n1.) to feel like a rebel\n2.) to put themselves in another state of mind, removing themselves from reality\n3.) for fun\n\nlegal:\n1.) because they have to\n2.) because a doctor told them they had to\n3.) for fun
1178839
first off I want to commend you for thinking about staying here in a legal way. Why do you need a green card now? Did your other one run out or are you here illegally?
419807
I found the following definition of illegal immigrant in:\nhttp://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&newwindow=1&q=define%3Aillegal+immigrant\n\nIllegal immigration is the act of moving to or settling in another country or region, temporarily or permanently, in violation of the law or without documents permitting an immigrant to settle in that country. ...\n\nBased on the above, I think it's about time! But I'm only referring to the ones who have not committed any crimes.\n\nMany of these immigrants have been working for 5 years, earning less than minimum wage and have not committed any crimes. They should become citizens.\n\nBelieve me, some people who are citizens just because they were born in the US, cause more trouble than some of these illegal immigrants.\n\nLook at the Welfare system. Can you honestly say that all of them were illegal immigrants at one time?  How many Americans are on Welfare?  How many drug dealers are American born?  \n\nI must stop now.
437421
For. I'm married to a "legal" alien, who became naturalized, and am a stauch advocate of immigration. But the laws pertaining to illegals have got to be revamped and most of all, enforced. That's the biggest problem. Little or no enforcement of the laws we have. So my question would be who's going to enforce this new one?
958139
No, they are temporary workers without residence priviledges. A resident alien is someone who is not a citizen but was approved as a permanent resident in the US.
402730
alnjk: I agree that it is difficult to circumvente around the meaning of the word illegal, although some have tried to distort the meaning by referring to those having an illegal status by calling them "undocumented" instead. The terms "immigrant" and "ILLEGAL immigrant are NOT interchangable. For example if I tell you to screw in a light bulb you would put the light bulb in...If I asked you to UNscrew the light bulb, you would know that I ment to take it out. PREFIXES make a BIG difference in the meaning of a word.......yes the word 'prefix' is a transitive verb.
473159
The key word is "illegal" as in not legal, as in wrong, as in shouldn't do it, as in not right. America has many flaws but one of our strengths is the legal system. What I find incomprehensible is that you would want to base a society on illegal principles as in I will cross another countries border, take up residence and not abide by their laws. My question to you is which laws do you decide to follow and which laws do you ignore and how do you arrive at your decision ? Do you want a society like Mexico where you have to bribe public officials and the police? I have lived in my country 52 years and not once have I had to or wanted to bribe a public official or policeman. On the other hand it is routine to do so in Mexico. What is also routine is bad water, disease and poverty. Do I hate Mexicans? Absolutely not. I want as many of them over here as possible speaking Spanish among themselves but English in general society, just as my German and Irish ancestors had to.Most of all I want them to follow the same laws as my ancestors followed. I do not want a Mexican legal system or culture dominating my life and my country  . We fought a war over that once and I have no desire to fight another one.\n\nLet me repeat I do not hate Mexicans but I will love the Mexican without agreeing to have the poverty, disease and disregard for the law imposed on me. This is my country and it is yours too as long as you follow the law, pay your taxes and learn the language. You would expect no less of me if I wanted to be a citizen of Mexico and common courtesy decency and respect would demand it.\n\nThis is a serious matter and it does not seem wise to me to expect reconquista. It will not happen.\n\nI just read Recoba 01's post. You need to know that I am not intimidated by Mexicans and do not think you are going to take my job. The rules are clear . Get your education, work hard compete fairly and then if you "take" my job all power to you. Mexicans are certainly capable of competeing with the best. As a native born American I am willing to live and let live, treat everyone with respect but as a slogan on one of the early American Flags put it. "Don't tread on me"