(The Conversation is a nonprofit, independent source of news, commentary, and analysis from experts in academia.)
Authors: Daniel Jenks, University of Pennsylvania; Ernesto Casta eda, American University
The PresidentIn his first days in office, Donald Trump wants to completely change the US immigration system. Trump issued several executive orders on January 20, 2025, which, among other things, prohibit people from requesting asylum at a U.S. border and temporarily bar refugees from entering the country.
According to another executive order, federal agencies are prohibited from issuing passports, birth certificates, or Social Security numbers to children born in the United States to parents who are not lawfully or temporarily present in the country. On January 21, 18 states filed a lawsuit to stop this executive order, which questions the 14th Amendment’s protection of birthright citizenship.
As immigration researchers, we keep a close eye on public debates over immigration laws, practices, and jargon. People can better comprehend immigration news by being aware of the many distinct phrases related to immigration, some of which are technical and others of which are not. These ten terms are crucial to understand, but they are by no means all-inclusive:
1. Migrant
A person who relocates quite far from their place of birth is known as a migrant. The terms used to characterize migrants and their unique situation vary.People who are compelled to relocate within their own nation due to natural catastrophes, violence, or other circumstances are known as internally displaced people.
International migrants travel between nations, occasionally without the proper documentation to enter or remain in another one. Additionally, there are seasonal circular migrants who frequently travel back and forth between locations.
Eventually, between 30 and 60 percent of all migrants go back to their home countries.
The motivations behind people’s decisions to migrate domestically or abroad, with or without legal authorization, are essentially the same. However, people from some nations can relocate more easily than those from others.
2. Immigrants
The phrases “immigrant” and “migrant” are sometimes used synonymously. Migration is a generic indicator of movement. The process of a non-citizen relocating to another nation is referred to as immigration. There are several different legal statuses for immigrants.
A permanent resident card or an agreen card is a legal license that allows an immigrant to remain and work in the United States and, after a few years, to seek for citizenship.
A foreign national who has been granted a T visa is permitted to remain in the United States for a maximum of four years due to their involvement in human or sexual trafficking. Similar to this, an immigrant who has been the victim of terrible crimes and has a U visa is allowed to remain in the country for a maximum of four years before applying for a Green Card.
An individual employed by a U.S. corporation within the United States is considered an immigrant with an H-1B visa.
An F-1 visa is held by many international students enrolled in higher education. Unless they are sponsored by a U.S. employer, enroll in another educational program, or marry a U.S. citizen, they have to return to their home country shortly after graduation. Depending on the topic of study, the stay may be prolonged for one or two years.
On January 5, 2025, Mexican migrants enter Ruby, Arizona, and get ready to surrender to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol personnel. Bell, Brandon/Getty ImagesBell, Brandon/Getty Images
3. Undocumented immigrants, unauthorized immigrants and illegal immigrants
Migrants who enter or stay in the country without the required legal documentation are the subject of these three contentious political words. Those who enter the country on a visa and stay longer than allowed are also included in this group.
Some of these immigrants earn money that isn’t subject to taxes. The majority pay taxes, work with fictitious Social Security numbers, and make contributions to Social Security funds without ever getting their money.
Spending by illegal immigrants in the United States exceeded US$254 billion in 2022.
4. Asylum seekers
A person who enters the United States through an airport or a border crossing and requests protection because they are afraid of going back to their home country is known as an asylum seeker. An immigrant may also petition for asylum if they have been in the country for up to a year.
While they wait to present their case to an immigration judge, asylum seekers are permitted to remain in the country for a limited period of time. Usually, the procedure takes years.
If a person can provide evidence of persecution due to their political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, minority status, or membership in a targeted group, they may be granted asylum. Among other risky situations, many people believe they must flee their nations due to abusive relationships or threats of violence.
Ultimately, a judge will determine whether a person’s fear is justified and if they are allowed to remain in the nation.
In February 2023, Ukrainian immigrants go to a job fair in New York City. Getty Images via Angela Weiss/AFPGetty Images via Angela Weiss/AFP
5. Refugees
Refugees are similar to asylum seekers, but they apply to resettle in the U.S. while theyremain abroad. Refugees are often escaping conflict.
The Biden administration had a cap of admitting up to125,000refugees a year.
Refugeescan legally workin the U.S. as soon as they arrive and can apply for a green card one year later. Research shows that refugees becomeself-sufficientsoon after they settle in the country and arenet-positivefor the country s economy through the federal taxes they pay.
6. Unaccompanied children
This is a U.S. government classification for migrant children who enter the U.S. without a parent or guardian, and without proper documentation or the legal status to be in the country. Because they areminors, they are allowed to enter the country and apply for the right to stay. Most often, theyhave relativesalready in the country, who assume the role of financial and legal sponsors.
7. Family separation
This refers to a government policy of separating detained migrant parents or guardians from the children they are responsible for an traveling with as a family unit. The first Trump administrationseparated familiesarriving at the border as part of an attempt to reduce immigration.
At least 4,000 children wereseparated from their parentsduring the first Trump administration. TheBiden administrationtried to reunite these families, but as of May 2024, over1,400 children separatedduring Trump s first term still were not reunited with their families.
Legal migration systems that lack avenues for immigrants who work in manual labor to move with their families, and deportations, both also create family separations.
8. Immigration detention
Immigration detentionrefers to the U.S. government apprehending immigrants who are in the U.S. without authorization and holding them in centers that are run similar to prisons. Some of these centers are run by the government, and others areoutsourced to private companies.
When a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official apprehends an immigrant, they are often firstbrought to a buildingwhere they are placed in what many call a hielera, which means icebox or freezer in Spanish. This refers to cells, cages or rooms where the government keeps immigrants at very low temperatures withfoil blanketsand without warm clothing.
Immigrants might then be quickly deported or otherwise released in the country while they await a court date for an asylum case. Other immigrants who are awaiting deportation or a court date will be placed in an immigration detention center. Some mustpost bond to be releasedwhile awaiting trial.
9. Coyote
A coyote is the Spanish word for aguide who is paid by migrantsand asylum seekers to take them to their destination, undetected by law enforcement. Coyotes used to betrusted by the migrantsthey were helping cross into the country. As the U.S. has tried to make it harder to enter illegally, the business of taking people to and across the U.S.-Mexico border unseen has become more expensive and dangerous.
10. The alphabet soup of government players
The Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, is a law enforcement agency created after 9/11. It includes a number ofagencies that focus on immigration.
These include U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, an agency that is in charge of collecting import duties, passport and document controls at airports, ports, and official points of entry along the border.
The Border Patrol is a federal law enforcing agency under CBP in charge of patrolling and securing U.S. borders and ports.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, is a branch of DHS that works within the U.S., within its borders, focusing on detaining and deporting immigrants.
The Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS,takes care of unaccompanied minorsafter they enter the country.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here:https://theconversation.com/what-is-a-migrant-what-is-ice-10-terms-to-help-you-understand-the-debate-over-immigration-247317.
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