Illegal Quote by Ian Haney López
““it bears mention that “illegal” is a misnomer: crossing into or remaining in the United States without proper authorization is not a crime, but rather a civil matter. Thus, contrary to Scalia’s preference, the Court majority eschewed the term “illegal alien,” noting that “as a general rule, it is not a crime for a removable alien to remain present in the United States.””
About This Quote
Source Court Opinion: United States v. Texas, 2016
The term “illegal alien” is inaccurate; unauthorized presence is a civil, not criminal, issue
In simple terms: Immigration status is civil, not criminal
Key Takeaway
Recognize legal terminology matters
Themes
immigration law
civil rights
terminology
Mood
serious
analytical
Type
legal
informative
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- public discourse
- media reporting
Key Concepts
Legal classification
jurisprudence
Questions to Reflect On
- How does terminology shape public opinion?
- What are the implications of civil versus criminal classification?
A Different Perspective
Legal language can be politicized, affecting perception
![“[Could you show us how Lana Del Rey dances in a club?] That would be illegal.” quote by Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/002/lana-del-rey-1196_clubs_could-you-show-us-how-lana-del-rey-dance_11205.jpg)
![“Before the Freedom of Information Act, I used to say at meetings "The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer." [...] But since the Freedom of Information Act, I'm afraid to say things like that.” quote by Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6dc/henry-a-kissinger-1068_freedom_before-the-freedom-of-information-act-i_25339.jpg)
![“I mean, you take a look at this, it's one way. [Mexicans] get the jobs, they get the factories, they get the cash, and all we get - we get illegal immigration and we get drugs.” quote by Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4fa/donald-trump-18_cash_i-mean-you-take-a-look-at-this-it-s-one_25474.jpg)
