What’s the difference between an expat and an immigrant, anyway?
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Why do we prefer to refer to ourselves as ‘Expatriates’, as opposed to ‘Immigrants’?
By Camille Brichard
‘What’s the difference between an expat and an immigrant?’
It sounds like the opening line for a joke.
And yet, as my country is coming running towards its next presidential election, the question of immigration promises to be a central theme. Every candidate has something to say about it, and the question featured prominently during the preliminary debates.
You would think that with the global pandemic, the immobility over environmental issues, and an economy that is slowing down, there would be more pressing concerns to address. But focusing primarily on immigration is just how it goes in Europe (and outside!) these days... Sigh.
The thing is, I refer to myself as an expatriate, but what I really am is an immigrant.
A legal immigrant, but an immigrant all the same.
I am well aware, there is a difference between legal and illegal immigration. The latter is a complex and politic...
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