Common Terms

The following list of terms is intended as a resource to aid in understanding the language commonly used when discussing topics related to undocumented students. This list is not exhaustive, and terminology may evolve over time. Our goal is to provide clarity and support respectful communication. We recognize that language can be deeply personal and may vary based on individual experiences and perspectives. If any term on this list is perceived as offensive or inappropriate, please bring it to our attention so we can make necessary adjustments, undocubearcare@morgan.edu.

Common Terms:

Asylum Seekers: A person who has fled their home country as a political refugee and is seeking sanctuary in another country. Only asylum seekers who are granted refugee status are allowed to work and stay in the new country. An asylum seeker may be a displaced person or an economic migrant. Every year, around one million people seek asylum.

Advanced Parole: Advance parole is a special travel authorization for DACA recipients issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It allows them to travel outside the United States for authorized reasons, such as education, work, or visiting family, and return lawfully. This is crucial for DACA students because leaving the country without advance parole would terminate their DACA status. Essentially, it grants them temporary permission to re-enter the U.S. after their trip.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR): CIR is reform of the immigration system as a whole. Some issues that are discussed in CIR are border enforcement, border security, adjusting the status of the undocumented population living in the U.S., visa reforms, among others.

Cultural/Performative Citizen: Acknowledges the cultural resilience and social reproduction in which undocumented peoples participate. They take part in the class, cultural, and linguistic knowledge and skills that establish the cultural capital of social groups in the U.S. Performative citizenship also acknowledges that folks can identify as citizens in all ways except on paper because they do not have a nine-digit social security number.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): On June 15, 2012, President Barack Obama announced the creation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative, which provides temporary lawful presence to undocumented youth and young adults. This initiative provides new opportunities to undocumented youth who came to the U.S. before the age of 16, have lived in the U.S. continuously for at least five years, and have graduated from high school or obtained a GED. Eligible recipients can request a temporary 2-year reprieve from deportation and apply for a work permit.

DACA-mented or (Un) DACA-mented: The term is used by undocumented individuals who are DACA recipients. DACA-mented and (un) DACA-mented (similar to Dreamer) is sometimes used as a way to navigate away from the negative connotations given to terms such as undocumented, immigrant, non-U.S. citizen and so forth.

DREAM Act: The Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act is a national piece of legislation proposed to provide a pathway to permanent residency and U.S. citizenship for qualified undocumented immigrant students. The national DREAM Act has been proposed several times in Congress since 2001 but has not been approved. The national DREAM Act is many times confused for state-based laws such as the Maryland Dream Act that provide access to in-state tuition for qualified undocumented immigrant students.

DREAMer: DREAMer refers to students who are undocumented and are also part of the DREAM Act movement. DREAMer is a term commonly used by students who connect with the DREAM Act movement and sometimes used as a way to navigate away from the negative connotations given to terms such as undocumented, immigrant, non-U.S. citizen and so forth.

Detention: The action of detaining/imprisoning someone or the state of being detained/imprisoned in official immigration and customs enforcement custody. Detention usually takes place inside detention centers which are jail-like spaces. The U.S. permits the indefinite detention of people until a decision is made by immigration authorities to grant a visa, release them into the community while they seek status adjustment, and or wait for their removal proceedings and eventual deportation.

Deportation: The action of deporting a person from a country. Also described as the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. The term expulsion is often used as a synonym for deportation, though expulsion is more often used in the context of international law, while deportation is more used in national (municipal) law.

There were 2.5 million deportations under the Obama administration.

Employment Authorization Document (EAD) – This document may also be known as a work permit or I- 765. The EAD tells an employer that the person is authorized to work in the US. It can also be used as an ID. Once obtained, a student may apply for jobs. After the student is hired by an employer, they will generally have the new hire complete an I-9 employment verification form. At that time, the student may present the EAD. The EAD is a “List A” on the I-9 form.

Entry without Inspection: Refers to individuals who have entered the U.S. without presenting normative government accreditation (i.e. visa).

F- Visa: It is a type of visa issued to students who are not from the United States but who are attending an academic program or English language program at a U.S. college or university. These students are required to maintain a full-time course load for the entirety of their approved stay.

Generation 1.5: Refers to immigrants who were brought to the U.S as young children and identify as American. The label comes from the groups’ special place as first-generation Americans who migrate to this country during childhood and feel a strong identification with the U.S., yet are native to another country.

Humanitarian Parole: Humanitarian parole is a discretionary measure by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that allows individuals who are otherwise ineligible to enter the United States for a limited period due to urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. Think of it as a temporary permission to stay in the U.S. for compelling circumstances.

“Illegal” (I-word): (I-word) is a racially charged slur used to dehumanize and discriminate against immigrants and people of color regardless of migratory status. The I-Word is shorthand for “illegal alien,” “illegal immigrant” and other harmful terms. The Applied Research Center (ARC) and Colorlines.com, have presented the Drop the I-Word campaign to eradicate the slur “illegals” from everyday use and public discourse.

Immigrant: In the U.S. context this term refers to all people who are born outside of the United States and or who have family members who were born outside of the United States. Some people might be a first-generation, second or third-generation immigrant. Some people also use the term foreign-born.

Immigration Detention: The policy of holding individuals suspected of visa violations, unauthorized arrival into the U.S, and those subject to deportation and removal until a decision is made by immigration authorities to grant a visa and release them into the community, while they seek status adjustment, and or wait for their removal proceedings and eventual deportation. The U.S. permits the indefinite detention of people.

Immigration Raid: A tactic used by federal immigration authorities to enforce immigration law. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents “round up” individuals in private homes with and many times without deportation orders/warrants. Many times ICE agents raid public spaces like grocery stores and school bus stops as a way to find undocumented immigrants who may fit the agency’s criteria for deportation. Many times immigration raids are done in locations considered sensitive locations such as hospitals and places of worship. Many immigration raids have taken place without the proper warrants and therefore have engaged in human rights violations and racial profiling.

Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN): A U.S. tax processing number (Tax ID), issued by the Internal Revenue Service to individuals who are required to have a taxpayer identification number but who do not have, and are not eligible to obtain, a social security number.

International Student: Most colleges and universities consider any student who currently holds a visa (M, F, or J) to be international students. Valid student visas are required to apply to the Department of Homeland Security for admission into the United States at the port of entry. Undocumented students are not international students as they do not have an M, F, or J visa and have resided in the U.S. for a number of years. In addition, undocumented students should not have to go through the international admission process as they cannot provide an international student visa and other documentation required. Some international students can become undocumented if they overstay their visas after they expire.

Interior Checkpoints: These checkpoints are located between 25 and 100 miles of the United States border. Their interior locations are meant to deter illegal activities that may have bypassed official border crossings along the frontier. The checkpoints are divided among nine Border Patrol sectors. There are a number of these checkpoints near the southern U.S. Mexico border as well as the northern border in states across the U.S. and Canadian borders such as Washington, New York and Maine.

Legal Permanent Resident (LPR): Or “green card” recipient is defined by immigration law as a person who has been granted lawful permanent residence in the U.S. Maryland Dream Act: The Maryland Dream Act became law on December 6, 2012. 

This law allows Maryland high school graduates who are undocumented immigrants, U.S. citizens, and other statuses the opportunity to qualify for the lowest tuition rates at their public colleges and universities upon meeting certain eligibility requirements and submitting required documentation. This law applies to all future semesters, starting with the 2013 winter session.

Maryland Dream Act: The Maryland Dream Act became law on December 6, 2012. This law allows Maryland high school graduates who are undocumented immigrants, U.S. citizens, and other statuses the opportunity to qualify for the lowest tuition rates at their public colleges and universities upon meeting certain eligibility requirements and submitting required documentation. This law applies to all future semesters, starting with the 2013 winter session.

Mixed-Immigration-Status Family: Refers to students that are either: 1) undocumented, but have family members that are U.S. residents or U.S. citizens or 2) are U.S. residents or U.S. citizens but have family members that are undocumented and or U.S. residents or U.S. citizens.

Naturalization: The process by which U.S. citizenship is conferred upon a lawful permanent resident after they fulfill the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The general requirements for administrative naturalization include: a period of continuous residence and physical presence in the United States; an ability to read, write, and speak English; a knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government; good moral character; attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution; and a favorable disposition toward the U.S. Immigrants face several barriers in this process; some include lack of access to lawyers, financial means for filing fees, time to study for tests and/or attend appointments.

Non-US-Citizen: The non-citizen category applies to people born outside of the U.S. and who have not applied for or have been granted citizenship. Permanent residents also fall into this category.

Non- Immigrant Visa: Issued to the citizens of other countries coming to the U.S. temporarily. Some of the nonimmigrant categories are students, tourists, treaty investors, foreign government officials, etc.

Overstayed Visa: Refers to individuals who have stayed in the U.S. after their tourist, visitor, or student visa has expired. A person overstaying their visa becomes undocumented.

Refugee: A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS): A temporary immigration status granted to nationals of certain countries who are already in the U.S. and who cannot safely return to their home country due to things like war, a natural disaster, and other extraordinary conditions. Some countries include El Salvador, Haiti, Nepal, Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

T-Visa: T Nonimmigrant Status (T visa) is a set aside for individuals who are or have been victims of human trafficking. It protects victims of human trafficking and allows victims to remain in the United States to assist in an investigation or prosecution of human trafficking.

U.S. Citizen: Individuals who obtain U.S. citizenship by birth in the U.S. or by process of naturalization. Citizens obtain a Social Security Number, have the right to vote, are able to use federal benefits, and are protected from deportation.

Unauthorized: This term is used to highlight the fact that all peoples have documents (i.e. birth certificate, a form of identification card, and so forth), but who may be residing in the U.S. without legal authorization, thus unauthorized.

Undocumented: Undocumented refers to people who are not U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents of the United States, who do not hold a visa to reside in the U.S. and who have not applied for or are eligible for legal residency in the U.S.

UndocuBears: UndocuBears refers to students who are undocumented and are also part of the Morgan community. The term UndocuBear is commonly used by students who connect with the MSU community and advocate for the rights of undocumented people. They embrace their undocumented identity. 

U-Visa: An immigration benefit that can be sought by victims of certain crimes who are currently assisting or have previously assisted law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of a crime, or who are likely to be helpful in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.