Urox's Journal: the new PC term: "undocumented" immigrants

In the California recall race, a kinder, gentler reference has surfaced for illegal immigrants. A quote from sfgate: "'Illegal' doesn't make sense," says Thomas Brill, a Sacramento lawyer, who dislikes the term. "They're not illegal people. They're just here without documents, without legal authorization."

Um, isn't "without legal authorization" the equivalent of "illegal?" Let's take a look at Merriam-Webster: "not according to or authorized by law." Looks pretty damn equivalent to me. Just like on a military base, if you do not show authorization (even if you have it) then you are not permitted entry and doing so may have a number of guns trained on you instantly. Remind me not to hire Thomas Brill if I need legal representation. And possibly to recommend him to my opposition.

Today was the first time I ever even heard a valid argument for granting a license to an illegal immigrant: because with a drivers license you are able to register a car and more illegal immigrants would obtain a license specifically so that their cars will not be confiscated for lack of registration. Because we all know that a license and taking tests doesn't automatically make you a safe driver or even one who obeys the laws as Bustamante would have you believe. I can look out on 101 and 280 where the average speed is 15 miles above the speed limit to get any example.

I think that offering licenses opens up a whole new area of possibility for fraudulent id and identity theft. I'm not worried so much about terrorists and frankly consider them a scare tactic into getting lots of freedom-eroding legislation signed (though I believe that they are more likely to get ID in California because of something like this). I think that offering a state service to people who already don't and won't ever pay taxes is yet another drain on the economy.

I hear about that lawyer from the same sfgate article thinking that the illegal immigrants he represents *deserve* to be compensated because the plaintiffs consciously decided to take a ride without a seatbelt.

A "mean-spirited change to the driver's-license law in 1994?" I'm tired of people bring race into this argument and using it for political agenda. I'm tired of hearing opponents say that prop 187 was mainly to try to keep the Latino population out of California. I'm sick of hearing politicians say that they support non-emergency services for illegal immigrants while campaigning.. especially when they were against them during regular office.

I'm a Seattle, WA, USA born citizen. My family is full of legal immigrants. My workplace is full of legal immigrants. My SO is on an H1-B. I'm sick and tired of other people trying to skirt laws and get privileges that law-abiding people are having such a difficult time even obtaining.

And Georgy, when are you going to reply to my email about this issue? I'm an absentee voter. That means I'm 80% likely to vote according to staticics. And I'm voting sooner than others because I'll be out of the state during election week.

wtf do you care?

[Elwood P Dowd]

Let the idiot call them "undocumented immigrants."

You'll know what he means when he says it. He'll also know what you mean when you say "illegal immigrants." (You'll also know he's an idiot.) So, you both get to say whatever the hell you like, and you both understand each other. Good, right?

Also, illegal immigrants are not guaranteed to not pay taxes. They are just guaranteed to not collect tax refunds. Illegal immigrants pay payroll taxes just the same as everyone else. There are certainly many illegal i

Re:wtf do you care?

[Urox]

I care because of what the media sells joe average and the outcome of that. I care that it forces others to use the term for fear being branded as racist or anti-immigrant though it represents neither. I am concerned that those two images bring up strong emotions in people who act irrationally because of the overwhelming emotion tied to the images.

It was my understanding that *most* illegal immigrants don't pay payroll taxes because of payment under the table to avoid documentation. The problem is that

Re:wtf do you care?

[Elwood P Dowd]

I certainly believe in social services, but I want to help the people who follow the rules first (rather than those who appear to me to be cutting in line)

This is a sentiment that I can certainly identify with, but I don't feel that all illegal immigrants are "cutting in line," simply by virtue of being illegal immigrants. If there were some other reason to apply that distinction, then I might agree with you. (And there may be such a reason. I just don't know it.)

I've always been an advocate of straight