No Person is Illegal.

That’s what the signs often say, protesting the president’s official actions and unofficial remarks and tweets about immigration. But did you ever take time to think about the meaning of the word illegal?

Here is how the Merriam Webster Dictionary defines illegal:

not according to or authorized by law

I think too often we view law on its face as as a legitimate authority, when in many cases its just a justification for the coercion by the government against private citizens and businesses. Law doesn’t have any force on its own – it only exists as a justification for legal action.

While undoubtedly law is good in the sense it limits the power of government and provides predictability and certainty for citizens and businesses – law is not moral or right.

To be illegal is not to be a bad person or entity but it does subjects an individual or business to the risk of prosecution or court judgement against the entity for violating a set out policy by law makers.