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 M¢25  Funded By Mahalo ? |  June 24, 2009 05:10 PM

In Sting's song Englishman in New York he refers to the term "Legal Alien", what is a "Legal Alien"?

I'm an alien I'm a legal alien. I'm an Englishman in New York I'm an alien I'm a legal alien. I'm an Englishman in New York ...
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mithrandir mithrandir
 
 June 24, 2009 05:37 PM
Being a legal alien means you are allowed to be somewhere, but don't really fit in. Sting has the perfect example: The Englishman in New York.

A typical Englishman, distinquished, high esteem, upper class, can feel quite out of place when positioned in New York, which is high speed, high energy, fast, and a bit brutal.

The formal definition of a legal alien is:
"An alien who is legally permitted to remain in a country which is foreign to him or her. On specified terms, this kind of alien may be called a legal alien of that country."
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_(law)

Asker's Rating:
• First answer back and a good use of detail.

Well done.


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bestpay bestpay
 
June 24, 2009 06:06 PM
I like this answer a lot.

I kind of knew the answer before I posted the question but wanted to see what other Mahaloians thought and this answer has made my post worthwhile.

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jfesmire jfesmire
 
June 24, 2009 08:48 PM
I must disagree that it means you do not "fit in." Many citizens of a place do not feel they fit in, and many legal aliens are well assimilated in our society, with friends, business contacts, kids, and so on.

That may be what Sting means in his song, but it is not an accurate definition.

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mithrandir mithrandir
 
June 24, 2009 09:23 PM
The formal definition states 'which is foreign to him'. He might assimilate to this, but in essence, it is still foreign. As soon as an Englishman assimilates to the New Yorker way of life, he is in essence no longer an Englishman, he is an assimilated New Yorker.

(tends to add 'Resistance is futile', but restrains himself)

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hansgonsol... hansgonsol...
 
June 24, 2009 05:42 PM
An alien who is legally permitted to remain in a country which is foreign to him or her. On specified terms, this kind of alien may be called a legal alien of that country

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philipy philipy
 
June 24, 2009 05:43 PM
In US legal terms an "alien" is a non-US citizen in the US. A "legal alien" is someone who is legally entitled to be in the country, an "illegal alien" is someone who is not.

Other countries don't necessarily use the term "alien" at all, but have their own terminology and distinctions.

http://www.legalaliensguide.com/

http://legalaliensguide.blogspot.com/

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bestpay bestpay
 
June 24, 2009 08:49 PM
Alien definitely isn't used as a day to day expression in the UK.

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pellrider pellrider
 
June 24, 2009 06:02 PM
An alien is a foreigner residing in a country. A legal alien is a foreigner legally living in a country.
A permanent resident in Canada (who is originally from some other country) is a legal alien in Canada
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_(law)


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jfesmire jfesmire
 
June 24, 2009 08:46 PM
A legal alien is someone who is in another country legally! In the United States, it typically refers to someone from another country who has a green card. They have the right to live here, work here, own property, and basically do anything a citizen can do, except vote. Many legal aliens are very productive members of our society.
Source(s):
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543...


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baalcat baalcat
 
June 24, 2009 10:01 PM
A legal alien is someone who is allowed to live in a non native country. This means they have a genuine reason to be living in another country and holds a visa and/or, in the case of the us, a green card.

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beatnik beatnik
 
June 25, 2009 07:38 PM
A "legal alien" is a term that describes a person from one country visiting another country with permission of the host country.

From Wikipesdia "An alien who is legally permitted to remain in a country which is foreign to him or her. On specified terms, this kind of alien may be called a legal alien of that country"
Source(s):
common knowledge and refined definition from wikipedia


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