Our Language in the Immigration Debate

Have you ever thought about how the term “illegal aliens” indicates a prejudice against people who are in this country without documentation. To speak of people as “illegal” is to imply that they are out to do something to us. To call them “alien” sounds like they are totally different from us. Sometimes we talk about “aliens from outer space.”

Miguel De La Torre, in his book Trails of Hope and Terror, uses the terms "undocumented," "undocumented immigrants" and "migrants." He says, “Language discloses one's moral perspective and frames the political debate. Using the word "illegals" or the phrase "illegal immigrant" paints unauthorized or undocumented people as criminals. It's uncertain when our society started affixing the concept of criminality to Hispanic immigrants.

“What is certain is that our society does not affix illegality or criminality to other people who break the law. For example, we do not refer to those who break the speed limit as ‘illegals.’ When alumni break the ban on drinking alcohol on campus before and during college football games, we don't call them ‘illegals’ or ‘illegal alumni.’ Are jaywalkers, golf betters and underage drinkers called ‘illegals’?”

I heard a man who is half Guatemalan talk about the fact that there are many undocumented workers in America who are our fellow Christians. We need to think of them as our fellow human beings instead of thinking of them as an alien hoard that is pouring across the border. They love their families. They love their children. They want to find hope for their lives.

I know that we have an important debate going on in our nation as to what to do about people who are here without proper legal documents. I am asking us to think of them as human beings and know that many, many of them are Christians.

And I am asking us to let our thinking be shaped by the Bible and not exclusively by television and political debate. Here is what the Bible has to say in Leviticus 19: 33-34. “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”