Legal vs Illegal

The National Academies Press makes a distinction between being a legal immigrant and being an illegal immigrant. They state that there are three ways to become an illegal immigrant.


The first way to become an illegal immigrant is the most common way: by entering the country either in an area that is not designated as a lawful point of entry, or by entering without an inspection. The two usually go hand in hand. The second way to become an illegal immigrant is when people stay in the country longer than they were authorized to stay. The third and final way to become an illegal immigrant is to violate the terms of legal entry. For example, if a tourist comes to the United States, but then gets a job, he or she is now considered an illegal immigrant.


According to Pew Hispanic, nearly 45% of illegal immigrants in the United States became "illegal" using the second method. Obtaining a visa and staying longer than allowed is the most common way for people to illegally enter and remain in the United States.


So, entering the United States legally is as simple as flying in on a plane with a visa or crossing the border at designated entry zones. It's once people come into the United States that the government has a harder time keeping track of them.