At what point do you stop being an immigrant?

[Evie]

Inspired by the usual commentary that present-day Americans and Canadians really shouldn't use "Native land" in reference to America, because they all are immigrants, etc, etc, etc; attempts to compare the situation in the Israeli colonies in the West Bank with North America, and so on.

And you know, I just have to ask - at what point do you stop being an immigrant, and get to call the place you live in your homeland?

 

[bhsup]

Well 1st, my standard rebuttal. I was born here and am as native as anyone else, so yeah it's my native land.

But moving on, I'd say you cease to be an immigrant when you become a citizen.

 

[Patroklos]

To be an immigrant you have to immigrate by definition. Anyone born here is a native of here.

 

[GoodGame]

Technically you're offspring, if born in the country, start the family's status as indigenous. I'd say it's your homeland once you qualify for and accept citizenship.

 

[alcal]

Is it so important?

 

[warpus]

But moving on, I'd say you cease to be an immigrant when you become a citizen.

This.

I stopped being being an immigrant to Canada when I got my Canadian citizenship.

 

[RalofTyr]

This sounds like political correctness gone mad.

Patrokolos' def is correct. However, you can be descended from immigrants even if you're born in a certain place.

There are several popular conceptions about immigrants in America and Israel. In America, to not be an immigrant, you have to be white. Mexican families, even if they've lived here since before the Mexican-American war of 1848, are still considered immigrants.

In Israel, since the majority of Israelis believe Israel is their homeland, even though their families have lived in Russia for centuries, they don't consider themselves immigrants.

 

[Phlegmak]

Inspired by the usual commentary that present-day Americans and Canadians really shouldn't use "Native land" in reference to America, because they all are immigrants, etc, etc, etc; attempts to compare the situation in the Israeli colonies in the West Bank with North America, and so on.

And you know, I just have to ask - at what point do you stop being an immigrant, and get to call the place you live in your homeland?

When you become a citizen, you're not an immigrant.

I find "we're all immigrants" insulting. This is my "native land", even though I've never called it that.

 

[GoodGame]

There are several popular conceptions about immigrants in America and Israel. In America, to not be an immigrant, you have to be white. Mexican families, even if they've lived here since before the Mexican-American war of 1812, are still considered immigrants.

That sounds like some racist theory that doesn't represent what the majority of the population believes.

 

[RalofTyr]

That sounds like some racist theory that doesn't represent what the majority of the population believes.

Come to the American Southwest.

 

[LucyDuke]

You don't stop being an immigrant.

And you're not an immigrant if you didn't immigrate.

 

[Azale]

Come to the American Southwest.

I live in the Southwest and I'm not buying what you're selling.

 

[Kerozine]

You can never stop being an immigrant. You can, however, stop being a foreigner..

 

[Patroklos]

There are several popular conceptions about immigrants in America and Israel. In America, to not be an immigrant, you have to be white. Mexican families, even if they've lived here since before the Mexican-American war of 1812, are still considered immigrants.

When you become a citizen, you're not an immigrant.

This makes no sense. The status of immigrant and citizen are not mutually exclusive. According to your logic the only kind of immigrant their is is illegal. Why are people so hostile over bieng an immigrant, especially if you are legal?

 

[Bill3000]

I find "we're all immigrants" insulting.

Why the hell do you find it insulting? Sure it's using a more broad definition of "immigrant" for the sake of a sentence to prove a point, but how is it insulting?

 

[Phlegmak]

Why the hell do you find it insulting? Sure it's using a more broad definition of "immigrant" for the sake of a sentence to prove a point, but how is it insulting?

Primarily because I'm not an immigrant. It's like calling me a European American. Since I'm not a European American, I don't want to be called one.

Secondarily, that "we're all immigrants" crap is typically used by people trying to defend illegal immigration.

And I thought you ignore everything I wrote. When did that change?

 

[LucyDuke]

You can never stop being an immigrant. You can, however, stop being a foreigner..

Yup.

 

[Gabryel Karolin]

When those who lived there before you are all dead (ie. no claim predates yours).

 

[Bill3000]

Primarily because I'm not an immigrant. It's like calling me a European American. Since I'm not a European American, I don't want to be called one.

You don't have any European ancestry?

Secondarily, that "we're all immigrants" crap is typically used by people trying to defend illegal immigration.

It's primarily used against people hostile to immigration.

 

[luiz]

As other have said, only people who have actually immigrated are immigrants, and that's a lifelong condition that does not cease.

Descendants of immigrants, however, are not immigrants. Otherwise all humans save a few africans, would be immigrants.