Immigration Reform: No more 'illegal immigrants'?
Immigration reform now includes language reform!
This week, the Associated Press (AP) announced that the phrase “illegal immigrant” is no longer proper style for journalists following AP’s widely used style guide. How influential is that guide? More than 2 million copies have been sold since the guide was first developed in the 1950s. The guide—including its regular updates—is as influential among writers and editors as the Merriam-Webster dictionary. (That includes editors at ReadTheSpirit and OurValues, who consult both the AP guide and Webster’s.)
My questions today:
Are you glad to see “illegal immigrant” go?
Or, would you prefer to keep it?
The AP news is a timely cap for our week exploring immigration reform: We’ve discussed how most people think the current immigration system is broken and favor a path to citizenship, the ancient tradition of welcoming the stranger, the fact that America remains the Number One preferred destination for immigrants, and that each of us has a family immigration story. Today, we consider this new shift in language.
Here is what AP now says in its style manual:
illegal immigration: Entering or residing in a country in violation of civil or criminal law. Except in direct quotes essential to the story, use “illegal” only to refer to an action, not a person: “illegal immigration,” but not “illegal immigrant.” Acceptable variations include “living in” or “entering a country illegally” or “without legal permission.”
To learn more about the perspectives of AP executives, here is a statement by Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll. Of course, not everyone agrees with the change. Some politicians, like John McCain, have said that they will stick with “illegal immigrant.” Generally, Republicans have preferred the phrase. Some media commentators have taken issue, including Jay Leno who joked about the politically loaded nature of the change.
Today, I want to know your reaction:
Is abolishing “illegal immigrant” an improvement?
Do you prefer alternatives?
Does immigration reform require language reform?
Wayne Baker is a sociologist on the faculty of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Baker blogs daily at Our Values and can be reached at ourvaluesproject@gmail.com or on Facebook.
Comments
Dave Francis
Fri, Apr 5, 2013 : 11:21 p.m.
The days are waning if we hope to stop or at least bring to a thin trickle the illegal immigration invasion. The REAL double layer fence must be constructed as originally designed, as part of the major plan and not the liable haphazard arrangement that condemned America in 1986 and is still part of the fiscal chaos we have today. THIS WILL ONLY HAPPEN IF AMERICANS DEMAND THE 2006 SECURE FENCE ACT FROM THE UNCONCERNED, MISINFORMED LEGISLATORS IN WASHINGTON? We must demand from the incoherent politicians a mandatory biometric ID card, that will bring to a stop illegal alien taking jobs from Americans. It will close down every loophole of lax immigration enforcement and make all legal citizens and legal residents impervious to another invasion. Only those who hold a federal ID card will be able to get a job; it will also be used to vote, purchase a gun, apply for welfare and prove who you are when purchasing something on credit. IT WILL BE A FORMIDABLE TASK AS THE SPECIAL INTEREST LOBBYISTS, RADICAL PRO-ILLEGAL ALIEN ENTITIES AND ANTI SOVEREIGNTY ORGANIZATIONS WILL FIGHT A LAW SUCH AS THIS, UNTIL THEIR BLOOD BOILS.
Dave Francis
Fri, Apr 5, 2013 : 11:19 p.m.
Join the fight to bring sanity back to America and stop the tax and spend Liberal Democrats giving everything to the deadbeats, freeloaders and bottom feeders. The illegal alien invasion is bleeding our nation dry and both political parties are colluding to encourage even more across our porous border. Find your voice and speak out. Stop for a minute and think? Become a member of hundreds of grassroots pro-sovereignty, anti-illegal alien organizations such as numbersUSA and petition Washington, or call your senator or Congress person at 202) 224-312. USE ANY MEANS POSSIBLE TO COMMUNICATE, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. Read the real news, Reports at American Patrol, not the bogus propaganda from the Liberal press. ITS A MUST READ THE AMERICAN PATROL DAILY REPORT. American Patrol website has a collected a list of many sites that are against any amnesty or illegal immigration. There are facts about the money taken from your taxes to pay for illegal aliens and their children at Judicial Watch, AliPac and FAIR. The Real evidence is there and you should read it, and then join the race to stop another amnesty and illegal alien invasion travesty.