ANTHROPOLOGY 281--The Phrase "Illegal Immigrant"--ETYMOLOGY OF AN ETHNIC SLUR

ANTH 281-1001
Dr. J Ferguson
University of Nevada, Reno
Spring 2018  02Mar18
JC Langelle

Human Cargo, Deportations and the Jews in Palestine

     In class following the lecture on Thursday, Dr. Ferguson made a strong argument against the label of "illegal immigrant" for those who have entered the United States undocumented. Taking for granted and usually referring to Hispanics who have crossed the border from the south, I was quite surprised to listen to the ensuing dialogue between the classmates and Dr. Ferguson, some considering the phrase appropriate, others not.
     Research in the newspaper archive files revealed a fascinating fact, the phrase has been around for a long time.

 

The above article dated May 20, 1891 published in the Wilkes-Barre Record ,
"it is better that illegal immigrants be not sent to the United States."
As Dr. Ferguson pointed out, the human beings were reduced to the level of objects, in the article above, mere human cargo, to be shipped or returned depending on whether there was a bill of lading attached to it.

In the next article, " The Pesky Chinee" is to be returned not to his homeland, but to the nation from where he entered improperly, in this case Canada,

In yet another archived article, Japanese are deported from Hawaii for being "illegal immigrants"

But the single most overused case of the phrase came during the exodus of Jews to Palestine during and following World War Two. Note in the above case the Arabs made of game of matching each Jewish refugee with 10 "illegal immigrants" of their own.

Great Britain made no bones about calling the Jews illegal and did everything it could to halt the flow to the Holy Land.

Obviously we have become so accustomed to using the phrase through many generations, it may take several generations to rid ourselves of this disgusting and derogatory affront to the less-fortunate among us.