Alien meaning :

In immigration law and generally, the term “étranger” refers to an individual from a specific country who is located in another country. This status can change over time and depending on the individual’s intent. This context may involve residents or non-residents, immigrants or non-immigrants, asylum seekers or refugees, as well as foreigners with or without documentation.

In the legal sense, the status of “étranger” is directly related to nationality. If an individual obtains citizenship in a country and decides to renounce their original nationality, they become a foreigner when returning to their country of origin. They must then apply for citizenship again to regain their former nationality.

In immigration law, the term “étranger” must be clearly distinguished from various related concepts to avoid confusion. It is essential to differentiate between the term “immigré” and the case of an individual considered a foreigner despite never having migrated. In the first scenario, it refers to someone born abroad who has permanently settled in a country and may have acquired its nationality. In the second case, it pertains to an individual born and residing in a country different from their country of origin, yet they have not necessarily obtained citizenship.

Etymology of alien

The term “étranger” is derived from the Latin “alienus,” meaning foreigner or person without blood ties. In its original sense, this Latin term referred to those who were considered outsiders to a family or community, those who had no direct kinship ties.

Over time, this concept has evolved to encompass all individuals from other regions or nations, foreigners to the society in which they reside. In immigration law, it has become a legal term to designate individuals who are foreign or unrelated.