Word of the Month for November 2016: Immigrant

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Over the years, I have discovered that there are two topics which, if addressed at most any social gathering, will immediately polarize darn near everyone. Specifically, I'm referring to religion and politics. This being an election year can make these two areas very dicey in some groups.

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As to things political, it can be anything relating to politics and almost everyone has an opinion on it (that someone else opposes and who will fight tooth and nail to prove their point). So, let's see, there's

• the bathroom issue
• marriage issue(s)
• abortion
• healthcare (or lack of it)
• foreign policy (or lack of it)
• 2nd Amendment (guns)
• term limits
• muslim surveillance
• the inability of the SCOUTS to make any decisions
• marijuana
• gerrymandering
• net neutrality

and the list goes on and on and on.  In California (or most any state that borders either Mexico or Canada), the hot topic is immigration. According to Black's Law Dictionary, an IMMIGRANT is 

someone who enters a country to settle there permanently

The problem is that it's not immigrants per se that bothers people, it's illegal immigrants.  So, that leads to two other definitions.  First, again referring to Black's, an ALIEN is 

someone who resides within the borders of a country but is not a citizen or subject of that country

and second, an ILLEGAL ALIEN is 

an alien who enters a country at the wrong time or place, eludes an examination by officials, obtains entry by fraud, or enters into a sham marriage to evade immigration

Who'd have thought that immigration could be so complicated?!  I mean, even just at a party with commentary flying around, I bet people don't really understand what all is involved.  They listen to the hype on the news, the Internet, their friends and then form opinions based on,....well, based on what, exactly?  Do you really think most people who say they are "experts" on immigration really have a clue about immigration?  

For the record, I am no expert on immigration.  That said, my opinion is a bit more informed than the average bear due to the fact that when I don't understand something, I reach for appropriate legal resources that help me understand the law and facts behind a situation.  

Maybe you'd like to be informed, too?  Maybe you'd like to bone up on immigration before going half-cocked at your next party?  If so, might I suggest you go to your local county law library and take a look at: 

• Immigration Law and Policy (Lexis)
• The Criminal Lawyer's Guide to Immigration: Questions and Answers (ABA)
• State Immigration Employment Compliance Handbook (Thomson Reuters)
• Kurzban's immigration Law Sourcebook (AIC)
• Guide to Homeland Security (Thomson Reuters)
• Immigration Procedures Handbook (Thomson Reuters)
• The Rights of Aliens and Refugees (ACLU)

Yep, there are a whole lot of competing issues out there. Good thing your local county law library is around to help you sort the wheat from the chaff.