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Terminology "Undocumented worker" versus "illegal alien" The terms "undocumented worker", "undocumented immigrant", and "undocumented alien" are often used to describe those who have broken the law of our land to enter and work in our country illegally. These are all misleading terms, deliberately used to "soften" the issue. The term "undocumented" implies that foreign nationals have the unconditional right to violate America's borders and immigration laws. An "immigrant" is an invited guest - a person who comes to a country where they are not a citizen in order to settle there. The term "immigrant" implies permanent, legal, residency. (Although because of amnesties and status adjustments, about 25% of currently legal immigrants first came here illegally). The accurate description of a foreign national illegally residing in America is illegal alien. An illegal alien is a criminal subject to as much as six months in jail for first offense and subject to federal felony charges for subsequent entries after deportation. For more information, see:
Anchor baby An anchor baby is a child born to illegal alien parents within the borders of the United States. The child is born as an American citizen and under the 1965 immigration Act, can be used to facilitate citizenship for the immediate - and ultimately the extended - family. The 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868 to protect the rights of native-born black Americans, whose rights were being denied as recently-freed slaves. The amendment states that "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States..." In 1866, Senator Jacob Howard clearly spelled out the intent of the 14th Amendment by writing: "Every person born within the limits of the United States, and subject to their jurisdiction, is by virtue of natural law and national law a citizen of the United States. This will not, of course, include persons born in the United States who are foreigners, aliens, who belong to the families of ambassadors or foreign ministers accredited to the Government of the United States, but will include every other class of persons." The original intent of the 14th Amendment was clearly not to facilitate illegal aliens to defy U.S. law at taxpayer expense. For more information, see the article Track 'anchor babies', by Al Knight, The Denver Post, Sept. 11, 2002. Anti-immigrant One who dislikes and discriminates against individual immigrants. Open borders proponents often label those who favor reducing immigration numbers as "anti-immigrant". Their intent is to discredit immigration reductionists by making false associations with racism, nativism, and xenophobia. The correct term is immigration reductionist. The truth is that nearly all immigration reductionists favor immigrants and immigration, but at a drastically reduced level. Supporting replacement-level immigration does not mean that one hates immigrants, any more than supporting replacement-level levels of births means that one hates babies. Balkanization Balkanization is the separation of a country or region into smaller units, often hostile to each other, sometimes involving the forcible expulsion of entire populations from their homelands by stronger powers. Concern has been expressed that high levels of immigration without assimilation may lead to balkanization. Carrying capacity The maximum population of a given species that can be supported indefinitely in a defined habitat without permanently impairing the productivity and functioning of that habitat. Humanity has been able temporarily to avoid carrying capacity issues through the use technology, preemption of supporting ecosystems normally used to sustain other species, and by transporting and importing resources. Thus, a more appropriate definition of carrying capacity with regard to humanity is the maximum "load" that can safely be imposed on an environment by humanity without permanently impairing the productivity and functioning of that environment. Shrinking carrying capacity may soon become the single most important issue facing humanity. Cornucopianist The belief that natural resources are essentially of limitless supply and that technology will find solutions to environmental, overpopulation, and resource depletion problems. Diversity Diversity is defined as noticeable heterogeneity, and often is used in a social context to mean noticeable presence of multiple races and cultures, without significant assimilation. Diversity is frequently promoted as the desirable condition for American society by those who favor open borders and unlimited immigration. Diversity monger One who promotes cultural and racial diversity at the expense of an indigenous culture and society, without regard for ecological and social consequences. Ecological Footprint The effective land area and corresponding resources required by an individual, city, or nation in order to supply resources and dispose of wastes. It is a measurement of capital stocks, physical flows, and corresponding ecosystem areas required to support a given human population and economy. (For more information, see EcoFuture environmental information; a new browser window will open). Fertility Fertility is the actual reproductive performance of an individual, a couple, a group, or a population. It is typically used in reference to the average number of live births per woman. Native-born Americans voluntarily achieved replacement-level fertility (2.1 children per woman) in 1972. See EcoFuture Population Terms and Definitions (a new browser window will open). Illegal alien A foreign national illegally entering and living in America, or who enters legally and then deliberately overstays their visa. An illegal alien is a criminal subject to as mush as six months in jail for first offense and subject to federal felony charges for subsequent entries after deportation. Immigrant An immigrant is an invited guest who comes to a country where they are not a citizen in order to settle there. The term implies permanent, legal, residency. Immigration reductionist An immigration reductionist is one who favors a return to sustainable immigration numbers. Often those favoring immigration reduction are called racist or anti-immigrant, but the truth is that nearly all immigration reductionists favor immigrants and immigration, but at a drastically reduced level. Immigrant rights Immigrants rights advocates promote the rights of legal immigrants; this is a productive and valuable effort. Often open borders advocates and organizations are referred to as "immigrant rights" advocates and organizations. This is a misnomer, designed to be deliberately misleading. Supporting illegal immigration and open borders under this umbrella is by no means supporting immigrant rights; it is supporting the nonexistent rights of illegal aliens to enter our country. Intergenerational justice The concern about the well-being of future generations. This concern is often discounted in light of short-term issues. See the article Intergenerational Justice. Nativism Nativism is the policy of favoring native inhabitants over immigrants. Establishing a goal of stabilizing U.S. population requires addressing both fertility and immigration numbers, and this is not a nativist agenda. Open borders proponent One who supports the Anti-American agenda of illegal immigration and open borders, notwithstanding the express intent of the laws of the land. Typically this is coincident with an anti-nationalist perspective. Political correctness Political correctness is a belief that language and practices that could offend a minority group should be eliminated. Taken to extremes, political correctness becomes a filter that prevents a society from understanding the true nature of issues and events. For example, immigration-driven population growth is often not discussed because of the fear of racist allegations. Population momentum Population momentum is the tendency for population growth to continue beyond the time that replacement-level fertility has been achieved because of the relatively high concentration of people in the childbearing years. It takes a period of time equal to the average life expectancy (approximately three generations or 73 years in the U.S.) for a reduction in fertility to be manifested as a change in actual population numbers. See Population Terms and Definitions (a new browser window will open). Racism Racism is the prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other races. Some racists indeed might want to eliminate immigration of certain races. However, immigration reductionists are not inherently racist, and the goal of stabilizing U.S. population is not a racist agenda. Reverse racism Reverse racism is the predisposition and bias against native-born Americans, and those of historical European descent and traditional American culture. Sustainability Preserving natural ecosystems and resources intact for future generations - of humans and all species. Xenophobia Xenophobia is an irrational fear of foreigners or strangers. But certainly, Americans have every right to establish a population and immigration policy for their own country, based upon the goal of population stabilization and a rational fear of unending population growth. Zero population growth Zero population growth means that a population is in equilibrium, with a growth rate of zero, and achieved when births plus immigration equal deaths plus emigration. See EcoFuture Population Terms and Definitions (a new browser window will open). Political correctness or political propaganda and mediaspeak? The following euphemisms for Illegal Aliens are routinely encountered in the media and even in U.S. Government materials: "undocumented," "undocumented workers," "guest workers," "border crossers," "foreign nationals," "undocumented immigrants," "undocumented Mexicans," "immigrants," "illegal immigrants," "illegal residents," "illegal workers," "Mexicans," "Mexican nationals," "unauthorized workers," "foreign-born inmate," "foreign-born newcomers," "lower-wage illegal workers," "migrant workers," "alien absconders," "Mexican-born expatriates," "Hispanic immigrants," "Spanish speakers," "Hispanics," "under-banked, under-served population," "newcomers," "illegal newcomers," "poor immigrants," "entrants," "Hispanic Community citizens," "border jumpers," "visitor," "Latinos," "people," "foreign-born," "foreign-born workers." Home |