Under Joe Biden, United States will no longer use the term ‘illegal aliens’ to describe migrants
- Employees of Customs and Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement should instead use ‘undocumented non-citizen’ or ‘undocumented individual’
- The change in language comes as the Biden administration deals with a record number of children and teens, mostly from Central America, seeking to enter the US
Employees of the two main US immigration enforcement agencies were directed on Monday to stop referring to migrants as “aliens,” a dated term that many people consider offensive.
Instead of “illegal aliens,” which was still being used by some government officials in press releases and elsewhere, the employees of CBP and ICE should instead use “undocumented non-citizen” or “undocumented individual,” according to the memos.
Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller said the directives were necessary to “set a tone and example” at an agency that includes the Border Patrol.
“We enforce our nation’s laws while also maintaining the dignity of every individual with whom we interact,” Miller said. “The words we use matter and will serve to further confer that dignity to those in our custody.”
We use the term ‘illegal alien’ because they’re here illegally
Administration critics dismissed the new language guidelines.