The term ‘alien’ is often used in public debates regarding migrants, particularly in the United States of America. This term is not in itself negative, as for example in its neutral legal meaning (transfer of ownership), but tends to acquire detrimental meanings over time. For example, this has already happened in the field of psychiatry, where the term ‘alienated’ to refer to the mentally ill, and that of ‘alienation’ to refer to his condition, acquired a negative connotation conveying an idea of radical difference. One consequence was, on this basis, the justification of the social separation of patients, locked up in mental asylums. The contribution of phenomenological psychopathology, with its insistence on seeing the patient as alter rather than alienus, has led to notable advances in the humanization of care and in favour of the social integration of patients.

Similarly, in current discourse on migrants the term ‘alien’ has acquired a negative connotation, to underline a radical difference from the natives, implicitly bringing with it the sense of being less human, and therefore less worthy of our empathy, and therefore less holders of human rights. Furthermore, by placing the word ‘illegal’ next to the word ‘alien’, the negative public opinion is further strengthened, also transmitting the sense of fear that the term ‘illegal’ arouses.

This article calls on intellectuals and scientists to reject these terms and to raise awareness among the population about their improper use, with the aim of avoiding the dehumanization and stigmatization of people with the least capacity to defend themselves, such as migrants.