the argument against the term
The legal grounds include
-it is legally misleading because it connotes criminality, while presence in the U.S. without proper documents is a civil offense, not a criminal one;
-it is legally inaccurate because it is akin to calling a criminal defendant "guilty" before a verdict is rendered;
- it is legally imprecise because it implies finality even though immigration status is fluid and, depending on individual circumstances, can be adjusted;
-it is technically inaccurate because it labels the individual as opposed to the actions the person has taken.
The moral grounds include
-the term scapegoats individual immigrants for problems that are largely systemic;
-the term divides and dehumanizes communities and is used to discriminate against people of color;
-the term creates an environment of hate by exploiting racial fear;
-the term affects attitudes toward immigrants and non-immigrants alike, most often toward people of African, Asian, Central American and Mexican descent;
-the term impacts the way young people feel about themselves and their place in the world;
-the term increases the American public's tolerance for daily violations of human rights;
-the term is a code word for racial and ethnic hatred;
the term is outdated, offensive, and implicitly carries with it negative connotations.
www.nwirp.org
Carry on being Trumping POS.
