Why We Should Use the Term 'Illegalized' Refugee or Immigrant: A Commentary

Abstract

This commentary argues for the adoption of the term ‘illegalized’ refugee or immigrant by legal and refugee scholars and practitioners when they discuss issues related to immigrants who have entered or remained in a country without legal permission. The word ‘illegalized’ draws attention to the institutional and political processes rendering people illegal. The use of this term constitutes a discursive strategy to engage the negative consequences of the term ‘illegal immigrant’ and its implied meanings and corresponding emotional responses, which can influence legal decisions, policies, legislation, as well as relations between affected migrants and civic society. Since the illegalization of refugees and immigrants is a widespread international issue, the term ‘illegalized’ refugee or immigrant has potential for general international use. 1. In TR odu CTI on The Associated Press (AP) recently announced an important change to its Stylebook: it ‘no longer sanctions the term “illegal immigrant”’. 1 AP suggested alternative phrases, such as ‘person entering a country illegally’ or ‘without legal permission’. 2 While these phrases may be accurate, they are wordy, prompting AP’s Senior Vice-President and Executive Editor, Kathleen Carroll, to project that suitable terminology will evolve ‘down the road’. 3 This commentary argues for the adoption of ‘illegalized’ refugee or immigrant to fill this terminology gap.