Immigrant
Welcome newcomer, despised threat, or needed labor force โ depending on the decade.
How We Say It
imยทiยทgrษnt
Where It Comes From
Latin immigrare โ to move into. From in- (into) + migrare (to move). The word distinguishes the direction of movement โ immigration is into a place, emigration is out of one. Neutral in origin; politically charged in use.
How It's Been Used
The word choice matters: 'immigrant,' 'migrant,' 'undocumented immigrant,' 'illegal alien,' 'newcomer' โ each frames the same person differently and implies different policy responses. The shift from 'illegal alien' (a legal category) to 'undocumented immigrant' (a status description) was itself a political act.