Inequitable Terminology

I read an article today that I found to be a bit disturbing. A Mr. Jerry Gonzales, who happens to be a Latino activist, exclaims that the word "illegal" in reference to immigrants "...serves to dehumanize a person....Similar to the way the n-word was used to dehumanize African-Americans"

Lets start off defining these terms:

Illegal Immigration- Illegal immigration is a movement of people across national borders in a way that violates the immigration laws of the destination country. Illegal immigrants are also known as Illegal aliens...

Nigger(n-word)- a person of any race or origin regarded as contemptible, inferior, or ignorant.

Implied meanings:

Illegal Immigration- Illegal immigration is a movement of people across national borders in a way that violates the immigration laws of the destination country. Illegal immigrants are also known as illegal aliens...

Nigger(n-word)- used as a disparaging term for a member of 'a' darkskinned race.


Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm. Whether definitive or implied the definition of illegal immigration (illegal alien) does not change. Clearly this term does not, generally speaking, dehumanize people (though the "feeling" of dehumanization is subjective and may vary from person to person). Even if someone felt that they were being dehumanized, the term itself is inclusive. Any person(s) of any ethnicity can be an illegal immigrant or alien, however to the contrary the nword is implicitly exclusive and derogatory. This word has been used to degrade Africans and African-Americans for over 400 years. It has been used as a to belittle, patronize and incite anger within the black community. But somehow these two terms are equitable? I beg to differ. Calling someone an illegal immigrant is simply a reference in regard to a person's citizenship status, and does defame a person's or a race's character. The perpetual inference of the nword is and should existentially remain separate from statements or terms that refer to an immigration status. Apples and oranges.