The Trump administration has launched a new website, Aliens.gov, which uses UFO themes to address the issue of illegal immigration. The site, featuring neon green text and references to ‘The X-Files,’ claims that ‘aliens’ have been living among us, referring to illegal immigrants.
Controversial Imagery
The website includes an interactive map tracking ‘alien encounters,’ which are purported arrests of illegal immigrants, and encourages users to report ‘suspicious aliens.’ An AI-generated animation posted by the White House depicts a UFO beaming up an illegal immigrant over the southern border wall.
This approach has drawn criticism for its use of the term ‘alien,’ which has historical roots in both legal and science fiction contexts. The term has been used in U.S. immigration law since the 18th century but has shifted in meaning over time, often carrying negative connotations.
Historical Context
The term ‘alien’ originally denoted something foreign or strange and was used in early U.S. immigration laws. However, it became associated with Mexican laborers in the 1940s and was further popularized by the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act. Over time, ‘illegal alien’ became a common term, though it has faced criticism for dehumanizing immigrants.
In recent years, there has been a push to replace ‘alien’ with terms like ‘non-citizen’ or ‘migrant.’ Several states have removed ‘alien’ from their legal codes, and President Biden directed immigration agencies to use alternative language in 2021.
Political Implications
The Trump administration defends its use of ‘illegal alien’ as factual, while critics argue it strips immigrants of their personhood. Legal scholars have noted that language choice can influence judicial outcomes, with terms like ‘alien’ often leading to unfavorable decisions for immigrants.
While the website’s use of UFO imagery is novel, the association of immigrants with extraterrestrials is not new. Sci-fi stories have long used alien invasions as allegories for immigration and empire-related anxieties.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
