Illégales

Illégales is a term used in French-language discourse to refer to people who reside in a country without legal authorization or who have violated immigration rules. It is most commonly used in legal texts, media reporting, and policy debates to describe irregular migration.

The term is controversial: some regard it as a neutral descriptor, while others see it as stigmatizing and dehumanizing. Alternatives include "personnes en situation irrégulière" and "sans-papiers" (without papers); the latter is widely used in advocacy contexts but can carry its own political charge.

Legal conditions vary by country, but "illégales" generally describes individuals with an irregular status, arising from overstaying visas, entering or remaining illegally, or losing authorization. In many jurisdictions, irregular migrants have limited access to social services and may be subject to detention or deportation, though international human rights law provides protections for certain categories, including asylum seekers when asylum procedures are pending.

Policy discussions around irregular migration encompass border enforcement, labor market regulation, and potential pathways to regularization or amnesty. Critics argue that the term can obscure the complex causes of irregular migration, while proponents emphasize the need to enforce immigration rules and manage enforcement resources.

In practice, irregular migrants contribute to economies and communities, often working in sectors with labor demand, though data on their numbers and impact are uncertain and politically contested. See also: immigration policy, asylum, sans-papiers, irregular migration.