unauthorized immigrant
Border-crosser sans papers
A person living in a country without legal permission to be there—lacking a visa, residency permit, or citizenship.
The term is more neutral than *illegal immigrant* or *illegal alien*, which critics argue dehumanize people by labeling them rather than their immigration status: The factory employed dozens of unauthorized immigrants.
Also called *undocumented immigrant*.
- undocumentedNot officially recorded
- legal statusOne's position in law
- borderOuter edge or limit
- border crossingTransit between sovereign territories
- crossingPoint where paths intersect
deportation · asylum · visa · overstay · work permit · smuggler · coyote · safe house · detention · sanctuary · sanctuary city · papers · green card · green card lottery · ICE · shadow · shadow economy · labor
unauthorized immigrantlegal immigrant
Approved foreign settler
documented immigrant · green card holder · legal resident · visa holder · naturalized citizen
unauthorized immigrantcitizen
Legal national member
native · national · naturalized citizen · full citizen · birthright citizen
unauthorized, immigrant, authorize, authorized, authority, author, authoritative, authoritatively, authorization