The Department of Homeland Security has defended the use of the term ‘illegal alien’ to describe undocumented immigrants, equating it to the politically charged ‘they/them’ pronouns. In a statement, the agency emphasized that the term ‘illegal’ is the legally accurate designation for individuals who enter the United States without proper documentation. ‘Alien’ is described as the correct legal term, with the department asserting that it is the technical equivalent to the ‘undocumented immigrant’ reference.
While DHS has cited references in the U.S. Code to support the use of ‘alien,’ the statement extended to a broader ideological critique, suggesting that the use of terms like ‘undocumented immigrant’ is aligned with left-leaning political agendas. The agency claimed such terminology is a form of political equivalence to the use of ‘they/them’ pronouns, with the suggestion that these terms are being used to influence public perception.
This stance is part of a larger effort by the administration to define and enforce immigration policy through language, with an emphasis on legal terminology. The department’s position also underscores the ongoing debate over the use of specific language in public discussions, particularly in relation to law enforcement and immigration processes. The statement was accompanied by examples of media usage, including news outlets in Indiana, Texas, and New Jersey, which cited the term ‘undocumented immigrant.’
Additional context was offered through the mention of recent incidents, including a high school student in North Carolina who was suspended for using the term ‘alien’ and subsequently received a $20,000 apology and payday from the school. The case highlights the complexities of language use in educational settings and the potential for such terms to be perceived as racially insensitive. These events underscore the broader implications of terminology in public discourse and its impact on policy discussions.