Should 'illegal' immigrants be rebranded as 'irregular' immigrants? The UN thinks so

UK Telegraph ^ | 7-23-13 | Colin Freeman

[TurboZamboni]

According to the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Malta, which gave me a leaflet about what words to use when discussing this issue, it's wrong to use the term "illegal". The reason is that most of those who arrive in Malta claim asylum, and even though they are locked up while their claims are processed, that detention is "administrative and not criminal". Also frowned upon is the word "clandestine", which has a "strong negative connection, invoking a sense of criminality". Instead, it recommends the phrase "irregular migrants".

[mountainlion]

Should we try to install every fool idea proposed by outsiders?

[TurboZamboni]

“Irregular Migrants” just need some metamucil.

[oh8eleven]

FtheUN

[Pearls Before Swine]

It seems that these language games are aimed at the US and European countries. Countries with strong border integrity, such as China, or Mexico, or Japan, don’t pay any attention to this crap, and aren’t expected to.

[LALALAW]

ROTFLMAO. They are illegal.

[S.O.S121.500]

FtheUN

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What if we branded them on their foreheads?

[Einherjar]

Using a Colt branding iron ?

[ClearCase_guy]

Bingo!

Mark ‘em.
Drop ‘em on the other ide of the new Fence.
Shoot ‘em on sight if they show up again on this side of the new Fence.

[TomGuy]

Sounds like a condition requiring Imodium.

[areukiddingme1]

Um well UN, how much skin do you have the game — i.e. how much money to you pay in US taxes. None! Okay noted if we wanted your opinion we would give it to you, now STFU and continue to be irrelevant.

[Lou L]

You know, rather than impose all the costs on the US to adhere to this kind of crap, why isn’t there more pressure placed on Mexico’s government to reform itself, to make Mexico a place where these people would want to stay, rather than come here? Isn’t that the real issue?

[Little Ray]

I maintain that Invading Barbarians is the proper term.
Just so we know what path this will eventually take us down.

[glasseye]

I prefer ‘criminal immigrant’.

But then words mean things.

[SampleMan]

And rapists will now be irregular lovers.

[FreeAtlanta]

Only if we change the word irregular to mean illegal foreign invaders.

[hal ogen]

I think the UN should be rebranded as “illegal”. Really...who gives a **** what the UN degenerates think about anything?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The term "illegal" should be attached to everything the UN does.

[eeriegeno]

Forget the illegal and irregular argument.

They are not immigrants, they are aliens.

Immigrants come legally.... Aliens sneak into a country....

[KarlInOhio]

Even if we buckled to UN pressure to call them "irregulars", within a few years all of the negative connotations of "illegal" would attach to "irregular" and the invaders would be demanding a new name to condone their actions.

If you knock on the front door and ask to be let in, I will consider it (although I will look much more closely since the house is so full). Break in the window, rifle through my fridge and then go sleep in my bed and I will take offense no matter what you call yourself.