undocumented migrants
Unauthorized border crossers
Undocumented migrants are people living in a country without legal authorization—either entering without inspection or overstaying a visa.
The term emphasizes their immigration status rather than characterizing them as criminals, in contrast to illegal aliens or illegals.
Critics argue the phrasing euphemizes lawbreaking; supporters find it more humane and accurate.
Undocumented migrants make up a significant portion of the agricultural workforce.
- remittancesPayments sent abroad
- asylumShelter from persecution
- border crossingTransit between sovereign territories
- deportationLegal expulsion from country
- human traffickingCriminal trade in people
under the radar · family separation · smuggling networks · discrimination · labor exploitation · xenophobia · coyotes · naturalization · green card · ethical dilemmas · education access · survival strategies · wage disparity · sanctuary cities · language barriers · DACA · cultural adaptation · poverty
- immigrationimmigrants, visa, refugee, citizenship, asylum
- migrationimmigrants, refugees, emigration, refugee, asylum seekers
- emigrationemigration, emigre, political refugees, expat, asylum seekers
- refugeesrefugee camps, refugee camp, displaced persons, refugee status, refugee policy
- wartime civilianscivilians, children, women, elderly, infants
undocumented migrantsdocumented immigrants
Authorized foreign nationals with paperwork
permanent residents · green card holders · naturalized citizens · legal aliens · citizens
undocumented, migrants, document, documented, documentation, documents, documenting, migrate, migrant