History Main / TheIllegal

Sometimes PlayedForLaughs in US media by having the illegal be [[CanadaEh Canadian]] or some other comparatively outlandish nation. [[DoubleStandard This version never faces deportation or exploitation]], but might face resentment from (legal) Latino or Asian immigrants.

* ''Webcomic/DanasStory'' is [[BasedOnATrueStory based on a interview given by an actual refugee fleeing war and persecution in Syria with her young sons]]. She sends her daugther ahead of herself and her son's to Vienna, and when things become too dangerous in Syria she flees under the cloak of night with her other children. She has to deal with HumanTraffikers who extort her and threaten to kill her children for organs, [[PoliceBrutality brutal police in Macedonia who arrest her 7 times and beat the adult men she's travelling with]], and countries turning her away.

Sometimes PlayedForLaughs in US media by having the illegal be [[CanadaEh Canadian]] or some other comparatively outlandish nation. This version never faces deportation or exploitation, but might face resentment from (legal) Latino or Asian immigrants.

* Meta-example: When Janette Goldstein showed up to audition for ''Film/{{Aliens}}'', she had interpreted the title as meaning ''illegal'' aliens and showed up dressed as a migrant worker. Made it into the movie as a joke over breakfast.

Increasingly common in UK crime drama. A common trope on U.S. police shows, as well. The nationality of the person being exploited varies. Exploited [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil sweatshop workers or other blue-collar laborers]] are Latino, Asians, or occasionally Eastern Europeans. If the situation involves human trafficking for purposes of [[SexSlave forced prostitution]], the case almost always Asian women, from China, Thailand, and other semi-industrial countries. An appropriate mob organization ([[TheMafiya Russians]], [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs Tongs]], {{Yakuza}}, {{The Irish Mob}}, [[TheMafia Italians]]) will be the string-pullers.

*** The Geomijul and Liumang are made up of Korean and Chinese illegals, respectively (the bulk of the Geomijul are defectors from the Jingweon Mafia mentioned above). However, many of them are second or third-generation illegals, stuck in lives among the downtrodden because Japan lacks birthright citizenship and there is no path to naturalization. In spite of being able to pass for Japanese, and being Japanese in all the ways that matter, that they are unable to partake of government services, including medical care and education. Naturally, crime is their only way to survive.

In any case, the person in question, due to fear of the gang and the terrible punishment doled out to non-compliant workers (torture, mutilationand death), language barriers, and poverty, they will have little recourse. Cooperating with the cops can mean a death sentence.

A character who has entered the country illegally. They are usually female, speak with a [[FakeRussian Central or Eastern European accent]] (sometimes their home country won't be specified) and are being exploited by the evil {{human traffickers}} who brought them over. They will probably end up in a brothel or strip club.

Getting increasingly common in UK crime drama.

A common trope on U.S. police shows, as well. The nationality of the person being exploited varies. Exploited [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil sweatshop workers or other blue-collar laborers]] are Latino, Asians, or occasionally Eastern Europeans. If the situation involves human trafficking for purposes of [[SexSlave forced prostitution]], the case almost always Asian women, from China, Thailand, and other semi-industrial countries. An appropriate mob organization ([[TheMafiya Russians]], [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs Tongs]], {{Yakuza}}, {{The Irish Mob}}, [[TheMafia Italians]]) will be the string-pullers.

In any case, the person in question, due to fear, language barriers, and poverty, will have little recourse. Cooperating with the cops can mean a death sentence.

A recent variation happens because illegal immigration is a political issue in the United States. Typically the illegal alien is Mexican, hardworking, speaks perfect English, can be of either sex, and is exploited only in minor ways which elicit sympathy for him without implying he would have been better off staying home. In fact, they are usually treated sympathetically. Some {{aesop}} may be delivered on how US immigration laws should change.

** ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza 0}}'':

** ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza 2}}'': The Jingweon Mafia is made up entirely of Korean illegal immigrants. Membership in the organization passes from parents to children.

A character who has entered the country illegally. They are usually female, speak with a [[{{Lzherusskie}} Central or Eastern European accent]] (sometimes their home country won't be specified) and are being exploited by the evil {{human traffickers}} who brought them over. They will probably end up in a brothel or strip club.

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* In ''Webcomic/JuptierMen'', Lupita [=McKay=], Arrio's late mother, is revealed to have been an extradimensional visitor from the Magi Dimension who crossed the border between worlds in violation of interdimensional treaties. She later settled down with a husband and gave birth to Arrio and Jackie before passing away some time before the present day. Nathan threatens to deport Arrio for his extradimensional heritage despite living his whole life on Prime/Earth, only relenting when the Avalon twins show Arrio into Nathan's lair and reveal his SecretIdentity.

[[folder: Western Animation]]

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** ''VideoGame/YakuzaLikeADragon'': A major theme in the game is the vulnerability and desperation of people living in the cracks of society, illegals among them.

* Catalina from ''Series/MyNameIsEarl''. She came to America [[GirlInABox in a box]] from a BananaRepublic called "Guadelatucky" [[spoiler: to escape from her mother, who was trying to kill her to get a kidney for her brother]].

* In''Series/OrangeIsTheNewBlack'', after getting released from prison, Maritza keeps violating her parole and frequently goes clubbing, when she's eventually busted by immigration officials she insists the whole thing is a mistake since she's an American citizen. She's detained and taken to immigrant detention center, where she insists that her citizen status will ensure her quick release. When she finally gets in touch with her mom, he asks her to bring the documentation to prove she was born in the United States and go home, her mom then [[spoiler: [[WhamLine reveals she lied about her birth]], and Maritza was actually born in Colombia, thus making her an illegal immigrant]]. At the end of the episode [[spoiler: Maritza is seen chained to other deportees, [[TearJerker boarding a plane that will take them to a country they either forgot about, or never even knew]].]]

* From ''Series/{{NineOneOneLoneStar}}'', Probationary firefighter Mateo Chavez. Though he came to the US illegally, he currently has legal status due to being brought as a toddler by his parents, and working as a firefighter would easily enable him to gain permanent residency... except he's very close to aging out of DACA protections, so if he gets cut from the Austin Fire Department, he gets deported to a country he doesn't remember.

** ''VideoGame/YakuzaLikeADragon'': A major theme in the game is the vulnerability and desperation of people living in the cracks of society, illegals among them.
*** The Geomijul and Liumang are made up of Korean and Chinese illegals, respectively. However, many of them are second or third-generation illegals, stuck between Japan's lack of birthright citizenship and the lack of a path to naturalization. Naturally, they turn to crime.

*** The Geomijul and Liumang are made up of Korean and Chinese illegals, respectively. However, many of them are second or third-generation illegals, stuck between Japan's lack of birthright citizenship and the lack of a decently speedy path to naturalization. Naturally, they turn to crime.

** ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza0}}'':

** ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza2}}'': The Jingweon Mafia is made up entirely of Korean illegal immigrants. Membership in the organization passes from parents to children.
** ''VideoGame/{{YakuzaLikeADragon}}'': A major theme in the game is the vulnerability and desperation of people living in the cracks of society, illegals among them.

[[folder: Western Animation]]

*** Similarly [[spoiler: Makoto Makimura]] is also not a citizen, for the same reason, and that makes her a target for various criminals with unsavory intentions. Her backstory involves being kidnapped and exposed to sex slavery of a kind that was so traumatic it made her go blind.