What’s In a Name? “Illegal” vs. “Undocumented”

**working4change** · 05-02-2012, 09:35 AM

What’s In a Name? “Illegal” vs. “Undocumented”
Monday, April 30, 2012

By John Rudolph : Feet in Two Worlds

Documented and undocumented immigrant youth rally on Times Square for passage of the Dream Act.](Sarah Kramer/WNYC)

The term “illegal immigrant” has appeared frequently in media reports last week as the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the Obama administration’s challenge to Arizona’s tough immigration law SB 1070.

Many immigrant advocates argue that “illegal immigrant” is an offensive and inaccurate label for people who reside in the U.S. without legal documents authorizing their presence. In response to this criticism, a number of news organizations have tempered - but not abandoned – their use of the phrase. The New York Times, consider “illegal immigrant” a more neutral term than the phrase “undocumented immigrant,” which is preferred by many immigrant advocates. However the Times does not use the phrase “illegal alien” in its reporting.

(At Feet in 2 Worlds we use “undocumented immigrant” in our reporting, and occasionally “unauthorized immigrant.”)

In this podcast, Fi2W executive producer John Rudolph discusses the editorial and political implications of this debate over terminology with Julia Preston, national immigration correspondent for the New York Times, and Monica Novoa, a writer for Colorlines and the organizer of the “Drop the I-Word” campaign, which has been urging news organizations to stop using “illegal immigrant” in their reporting.

What

**Kiara** · 05-02-2012, 10:25 AM

What ever happened to freedom of speach? Illegal's are so childish, disrespectful, bold and arrogant with their constant whining and demands. They are catered to on so many levels and it's never enough for them. They want to break laws and get away with it and they want us to be all nice and fuzzy about it. Calling them anything but illegal won't change the fact that they are illegal. We are not going to look at them any different because they are called something else. Respect must be earned.

**ReggieMay** · 05-02-2012, 11:48 AM

Illegal is what people do who break into our country. Undocumented is when I forget my driver's license at home.

**cavmom** · 05-02-2012, 12:28 PM

I find it funny that they get all offended because people say they are illegal....they are just that....ILLEGALLY HERE....
They knew they broke the law by coming here ILLEGALLY...and then they stay and make demands! Only in America! LOL
As ive said before....the truth hurts....if you are here illegally....you are an ILLEGAL ALIEN

**avenger** · 05-02-2012, 12:41 PM

The best way to not be called any of those "offending" names is to not live illegally in another country...duh. If you don't want to be called a criminal don't commit crimes. How hard is that to understand.

**kathyet** · 05-02-2012, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by Kiara

What ever happened to freedom of speach? Illegal's are so childish, disrespectful, bold and arrogant with their constant whining and demands. They are catered to on so many levels and it's never enough for them. They want to break laws and get away with it and they want us to be all nice and fuzzy about it. Calling them anything but illegal won't change the fact that they are illegal. We are not going to look at them any different because they are called something else. Respect must be earned.

What part of illegal aliens, or illegal persons, or illegal criminals do they not get. If they don't want the name or label don't do the crime of ILLEGAL ENTRY into the USA...

**4thHorseman** · 05-03-2012, 08:50 AM

This is just the logical outcome of applying leftist NEWSPEAK to blur the meaning of straightforward language. Unfortunately, our language today is riddled with such misleading language. "Right wing extremist" for conservative. "Progressive" for communist. "Gay" for homosexual. Etc. Using this idiotic logic means it is only a matter of time that a car thief will be an "unregistered user"; bank robbers will be "temporary holders of undocumented funds"; murderers will be "unauthorized with-holders of others' vital signs"; child molesters will be "juvenile-sexually-oriented pillars of society"; rapists will be "goal-oriented practitioners assisting others to overcome initial negative attitudes towards having non-consensual sex with total strangers".

**April** · 05-03-2012, 09:05 AM

Bottom LINE ILLEGAL IS ILLEGAL, if they do not want to be called illegal , then simply enter the country through the LEGAL process. That of course is over looked because the Dems desperately need the illegal alien voting bloc and voter fraud to stay in office. It is their only hope.

**kathyet** · 05-03-2012, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by April

Bottom LINE ILLEGAL IS ILLEGAL, if they do not want to be called illegal , then simply enter the country through the LEGAL process. That of course is over looked because the Dems desperately need the illegal alien voting bloc and voter fraud to stay in office. It is their only hope.

We can always start calling them ( mod edit)