We acknowledge that the rights of immigrants including those waiting outside the USA, were granted to them by the American people. However once these rights are granted they should not be fully or partly taken away and given to illegal aliens. To be crystal clear, this is because:
"Illegal aliens are not immigrants, they are foreign intruders"
Jean Baptiste Truong, Executive Board Member
As legal immigrants of all nationalities we are weary of US Government policies and legislation which gives preferential treatment to illegal aliens, treatment which legal immigrants do not receive. To separate reality from propaganda in this debate, the use of correct definitions is required:
Alien - Any person not a citizen or national of the United States. (1)
Immigrant - An alien who has been granted the right by the US government to reside permanently in the United States and to work without restrictions in the United States. Also known as a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR). (1)
Illegal alien - An alien who has entered the country illegally or is residing in the United States illegally after entering legally (for example, entering on a tourist visa and remaining after the visa expires). (1)
Intruder - To force oneself upon others without being asked or welcomed. (2)
We started this organization because until now the rights of legal immigrants have largely been left out of the debate on immigration reform. The reality is most legal immigrants strongly oppose illegal immigration, and the legalization of illegal aliens, because these policies discriminate against them. Legal immigrants are those foreigners that have obeyed US immigration laws through the entire immigration process. We consider former illegal aliens, who were then granted the right to live in the US by amnesty legislation, to be "legalized" immigrants, and not legal or lawful immigrants.
Yet many groups and politicians that support illegal aliens and amnesty for them have gone so far as to call illegal aliens "immigrants". Not only is this done without the permission or agreement of most legal immigrants, it offends and insults them. Legal immigrants fill out stacks of forms, endure numerous medical tests, pay thousands of dollars, and wait up to a decade or more before being allowed to enter the US. All of this is done to ensure they are a net benefit to America. Illegal alien don't do any of this because for a most part they are a net drain on America.
Even use of the term "illegal immigrant" is an oxymoron, as by definition immigrants are lawfully present in the US.
Many of the organizations and politicians who claim to be "pro immigrant" are in fact pro illegal alien. They advocate for putting illegal aliens ahead of legal immigrants. Compared to most legal immigrants waiting overseas for an entry visa, illegal aliens have high paying jobs, access to US health care, plus any babies they have are granted automatic US Citizenship and all its benefits. Thus simply by being allowed to reside in the US, illegal aliens are placed ahead of legal immigrants. The only way to put legal immigrants first is to insist illegal aliens return to their country of origin, where they can apply and wait their turn to enter like legal immigrants do. Enforcing the immigration laws is also in the best interests of illegal aliens, because by being here illegally they can be taken advantage of by law-breaking employers and other criminals. It is much better for them to enter with purposeful dignity and reside here with the full protection of the law. This is the true pro immigrant position.
There is nothing wrong with using the term "alien" along with modifiers, for example "non resident alien", in the immigration debate. These modifiers simply explain the status of a foreigner present in the United States. Legal immigrants are also know as permanent resident aliens, this is a positive description of foreigners who are in fact allies of the United States living here to make it a better country.
(1) US Government definition
(2) Webster's Dictionary of the American Language, Second College Edition
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