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We need to stop using "undocumented" as a replacement for "illegal."
Undocumented status is complicated.
It includes losing status (dedocumentation) or being stopped from gaining status.
It's never been a simple polar opposite of being "documented."
What do I mean?
Undocumented status is complicated.
It includes losing status (dedocumentation) or being stopped from gaining status.
It's never been a simple polar opposite of being "documented."
What do I mean?
Enter illegally, claim asylum, detained and sent to a court that denies 100% of asylum claims.
Never had a chance.
Undocumented, but whose fault?
Never had a chance.
Undocumented, but whose fault?
Order of deportation. Law then provides a path to a green card if you can get through an interview, but government detains you and doesn't let you get on that path.
Undocumented, but is it fair?
Undocumented, but is it fair?
Enter legally, overstay due to medical reasons; couldn't afford very expensive and uncertain options to extend status.
Undocumented, but could happen to anyone.
Undocumented, but could happen to anyone.
Ineligible for any status for 10 years because left the US to visit mom on deathbed.
Undocumented, but who wouldn't visit their dying mother?
Undocumented, but who wouldn't visit their dying mother?
Deportable for a crime. Then the law changes and the crime no longer triggers deportation, or perhaps gives some relief from deportation.
Undocumented, but not 100%. Not yet, anyway.
Undocumented, but not 100%. Not yet, anyway.
#ICEraids once again loom in Trump's America.
Victims will be reported only as "undocumented," when their situations may fall into one of these examples.
It's never "just" undocumented. There's usually an explanation.
Victims will be reported only as "undocumented," when their situations may fall into one of these examples.
It's never "just" undocumented. There's usually an explanation.
We don't use the term "illegal" because human beings aren't illegal.
But also because it's never been as a simple as you're either legal or not. Turns out, human lives are complicated.
Who knew.
But also because it's never been as a simple as you're either legal or not. Turns out, human lives are complicated.
Who knew.
Sadly, our system is designed to de-document. It wants to create more orders of deportation, and then spend billions detaining and deporting.
We take the labor and the tax revenue, then keep deporting the workers without a care for their families.
It's both cruel and stupid.
We take the labor and the tax revenue, then keep deporting the workers without a care for their families.
It's both cruel and stupid.
So along with being undocumented, remember to include the people who were stripped of their documents, or never got a chance, or are working toward regaining their documents.
I know we need a term like undocumented: but don't assume everyone got there the same way, or fairly.
I know we need a term like undocumented: but don't assume everyone got there the same way, or fairly.
