illegal immigration
Unlawful population movement
Illegal immigration is the entry or residence in a country without legal authorization—crossing borders without inspection, overstaying visas, or violating terms of admission.
The term is politically contested: critics prefer "undocumented immigration," arguing that actions rather than people should be called illegal.
Illegal immigration has dominated the campaign debate.
Remaining after authorization expires
- dreamersThose with ambitious visions
- DACAYouth immigration protection program
- statusOne's relative position
- path to citizenshipLegal process for immigrants
Act of taking away
- expulsionForced permanent removal
- detentionTemporary official holding
- ICEImmigration enforcement bureau
- raidSudden armed incursion
repatriation · crackdown · deportee · enforcement · banishment · sweep · detainer · self-deportation
Person fleeing danger abroad
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- protectionGuarding against harm
- asyleeGranted-sanctuary immigrant
safe haven · fear · humanitarian · displaced · stateless · flee · escape · resettlement
Person who toils
- farmworkerAgricultural labor employee
- day laborerCasual hired worker
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- wage theftEmployer withholding earned compensation
cash economy · under the table · E-Verify · work permit · nanny · housekeeper · meatpacking · construction
Point where paths intersect
- fenceBoundary structure between properties
- wallVertical enclosing structure
- patrolRegular surveillance route
- checkpointInspection station on route
smuggling · barrier · surveillance · entry · guard · territory · sovereignty · jurisdiction
Illegal transport of persons
- coyoteWild North American canid
- traffickingIllegal transport for profit
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
- organized crimeStructured illegal enterprise
stash house · identity fraud · fees · debt bondage · exploitation · dangerous journey · death · suffocation
visa overstay
Remaining after authorization expires
removal
Act of taking away
- expulsionForced permanent removal
- detentionTemporary official holding
- ICEImmigration enforcement bureau
raid · repatriation · crackdown · deportee · enforcement · banishment · sweep · detainer · self-deportation · flight risk
refugee
Person fleeing danger abroad
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- protectionGuarding against harm
asylee · safe haven · fear · humanitarian · displaced · stateless · flee · escape · resettlement · oppression
worker
Person who toils
- farmworkerAgricultural labor employee
- day laborerCasual hired worker
- exploitationSelfish use of others
wage theft · cash economy · under the table · E-Verify · work permit · nanny · housekeeper · meatpacking · construction · agriculture
crossing
Point where paths intersect
- fenceBoundary structure between properties
- wallVertical enclosing structure
- patrolRegular surveillance route
checkpoint · smuggling · barrier · surveillance · entry · guard · territory · sovereignty · jurisdiction · enforcement
human smuggling
Illegal transport of persons
- coyoteWild North American canid
- traffickingIllegal transport for profit
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
organized crime · stash house · identity fraud · fees · debt bondage · exploitation · dangerous journey · death · suffocation · abandonment
- immigrationvisa, refugee, citizenship, asylum, deportation
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- migrationrefugees, refugee, asylum seekers, displaced persons, asylum policy
- Zionist historyZionism, Jewish state, Balfour Declaration, Ben-Gurion, aliyah
- Mandate PalestineBritish Mandate, Balfour Declaration, British rule, League of Nations, Ben-Gurion
- labor migrationguest workers, guest worker, foreign workers, work permit, seasonal workers
illegal immigrationlegal immigration
Sanctioned permanent relocation abroad
legal residency · refugee resettlement · naturalization · green card holders · asylum
illegal immigrationemigration
Leaving homeland permanently
deportation · repatriation · expatriation · defection · exile
illegal, illegally, illegality, legal, legally, legality, legalize, legalization, illegalize