September 2014 Consular Corner: Liam Schwartz

Lawyers, Lexicologists and Dancing Angels - "U.S. immigration law calls a foreign national’s arrival in the United States, without inspection by a border official, an “illegal entry.”  The law refers to those who make an illegal entry as “illegal entrants.”  Having crossed the border, illegal entrants are said to be “unlawfully present” in our country.  In other words, while the entry to our country by these individuals is illegal, their presence here in unlawful.  Are “illegal” and “unlawful” two ways for saying the same thing, or did Congress in its wisdom see a meaningful difference between these terms?" - Liam Schwartz, Consular Corner, Sept. 2014.