Thread: Massachusetts Mayor Bans the Word ‘Illegal’ for Illegal Immigrants

Massachusetts Mayor Bans the Word ‘Illegal’ for Illegal Immigrants

By Elizabeth Harrington
November 2, 2012


Illegal immigrants in Nogales, Arizona wait to be deported to Mexico. (AP Photo)

(CNSNews.com) – The mayor of Somerville, Mass., has banned the use of the term “illegals” when referring to illegal aliens.

Mayor and Alderman Joe Curtatone announced the new policy at a local board meeting last week, according to the Somerville Journal.

The decision was made after a “team of youths” urged the city to stop using the “hurtful” term. “I hadn’t given it a thought until they brought to my attention how hurtful that term is,” Board President Tom Taylor said. “Some of their testimony is pretty heart wrenching.”

One testimony came from Elis Melara, a 14-year-old whose cousin was deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last year. “The way he said those words made me angry,” she said, referencing the word illegal.

“The officer made him seem like a criminal. He was talking about my cousin like he didn’t matter. He matters to me,” Melara said. “The word ‘illegal’ is a wrong way to describe a human being. A better word is ‘undocumented.’ I am thankful that I am an American and can do something about it.”

Curtatone, who is serving his fifth term as mayor since being elected in 2003, said his community has “always been a city of hope for immigrants around the world.”
“We made it clear here that whatever your status is, wherever you’re from, we are your mayor, we’re your aldermen, this is your city and we’re here to service you,” he said. “Anyone who wants to be a part of this city is welcome here.”

Somerville, which is just north of Cambridge, has a population of 76,519 people. According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), Massachusetts has an estimated illegal immigrant population of 190,000 as of 2010.

Massachusetts Mayor Bans the Word

This man is SCREAMING "FIRE ME" ..... Look Here Somerville, Mass ... how many are un-employeed in your town ... and your sure NONE of you "76,519" are more qualified than this incompetant boob... it's time to put Joe Curtatone right beside you in the Un-employment line and get an INTELLIGENT Person to run your city

Even if we called them un-documented, they're still illegal and breaking laws and therefore a criminal. They are illegal's with hurt feelings. Well, it hurts my feelings just as much to know they are taking jobs away from my fellow citizens. It hurts my feelings and makes me angry as hell that we are required to speak a foreign language now in many areas because of all these illegal invaders. It hurts my feelings that so many of our innocent people have died at the hands of the un-documented.

Hi Kiara
you are 100 % right Im still out of work I thank god for our kids but they have family also

I go for ajob & who has the job not only Mexicans Chinese .also
no amnesty or dream act

So how bout,.....Illegal undocumented illegal alien???

I really don't think the mayor has any legal right to ban the term illegals when referring to illegal immigrants. What is he going to do if someone refers to them as illegals? Undocumented isn't correct. All of the under 30 year old illegal immigrants sure came up with documents to get Obama's 2 year Amnesty.