AP: Don't call them illegal

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Stylebook drops term "Illegal immigrant."

What's the PC term? Comedian Jay Leno joked that the phrase should be replaced with "undocumented Democrat."

The Associated Press is being accused of trying to influence the immigration debate following a decision to stop using the term "illegal immigrant" in its coverage -- despite the fact it is still being used by U.S. government officials including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
The decision comes as a bipartisan group of senators prepares to introduce sweeping immigration legislation which is expected to propose a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants.
Indeed, the move by the influential wire service is being hailed as a victory by immigrant advocacy groups.
The conservative Media Research Center, though, described the change as a "politically-correct mumble."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/04/03/ap-stylebook-drops-illegal-immigrants-from-its-manual/

 

[Captain Obvious]

It's not a crime to be in the country without a visa. Sneaking into the country is a misdemeanor.

 

[HejiraHenry]

It's not a crime to be in the country without a visa.

That can be fixed.

 

[Mark2010]

This is stupid. PC crap run amok.

Of course, not all immigrants are illegal. Some are, others are not. But if someone happens to be illegal, than that is what they are.

 

[da man]

It's not a crime to be in the country without a visa. Sneaking into the country is a misdemeanor.

Misdemeanor=illegal, no?

 

[trifectarich]

“The Stylebook no longer sanctions the term ‘illegal immigrant’ or the use of ‘illegal’ to describe a person,” Carroll said. “Instead, it tells users that ‘illegal’ should describe only an action, such as living in or immigrating to a country illegally.”


If those two sentences don't contradict one another, I don't know what does.

 

[fossywriter8]

A misdemeanor is still illegal.
It seems to me that "illegal immigrant" or "illegal alien" correctly and succinctly identify someone who enters the country outside the legal method. I see no reason to stop using either, and I don't plan to stop, either in speech or the written word.

 

[Rhody31]

Heard someone - a talking head for the change - in a radio interview saying that you wouldn't call a drunk driver an illegal driver so that's why you shouldn't call an illegal immigrant illegal.

 

[Mark2010]

“The Stylebook no longer sanctions the term ‘illegal immigrant’ or the use of ‘illegal’ to describe a person,” Carroll said. “Instead, it tells users that ‘illegal’ should describe only an action, such as living in or immigrating to a country illegally.”


If those two sentences don't contradict one another, I don't know what does.

So it can be an adverb but not an adjective?

 

[Captain Obvious]

It's not a crime to be in the country without a visa. Sneaking into the country is a misdemeanor.

Misdemeanor=illegal, no?

Half of undocumented immigrants entered the country illegally. How do you differentiate? Seems as if accuracy should be the key.

 

[RickStain]

I don't care for "undocumented" either. "Oh, he just forgot to file for papers but everything would be kosher otherwise."

How about unauthorized immigrants?

 

[Versatile]

They are more illegal than Jay Leno is a comedian.

 

[Joe Williams]

Morphing and softening language as a way to shift or shape a debate is a tool of the intellectually dishonest.

For instance, people need to stay in the realm of "pro-abortion" and "anti-abortion," rather than hiding behind coattails of "-choice" and "-life." Same with vague blanket words like "fairness," which can be turned and flipped every which way.

It's mumbo-jumbo to play that "people aren't illegal, their actions are illegal" nonsense. They're people. They're human beings. But based on how they immigrate, they are illegal. The action is inherent in the label, and they took that action illegally.

I suppose we could call them trespassers. Or intruders. Or line-jumping thieves.
I prefer RickStain's "unauthorized immigrants" to the "undocumented" silliness, but even that softens the offense of breaching sovereign borders. Seems to put more of the onus on those who might (or "should") authorize, as opposed to the transgressors.

What term would the AP use for U.S. citizens who tried to barge illegally across other nations' borders? "Jailed Americans?" Maybe "dead Americans?"

 

[Captain Obvious]

Funny how the mainstream media never called the Iraq War illegal in 2003.

 

[Ace]

Why does it seem like the crimes and "sins" of brown-skinned people and gays are so much worse than the crimes and sins of straight white people?

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Morphing and softening language as a way to shift or shape a debate is a tool of the intellectually dishonest.

For instance, people need to stay in the realm of "pro-abortion" and "anti-abortion," rather than hiding behind coattails of "-choice" and "-life." Same with vague blanket words like "fairness," which can be turned and flipped every which way.

It's mumbo-jumbo to play that "people aren't illegal, their actions are illegal" nonsense. They're people. They're human beings. But based on how they immigrate, they are illegal. The action is inherent in the label, and they took that action illegally.

I suppose we could call them trespassers. Or intruders. Or line-jumping thieves.
I prefer RickStain's "unauthorized immigrants" to the "undocumented" silliness, but even that softens the offense of breaching sovereign borders. Seems to put more of the onus on those who might (or "should") authorize, as opposed to the transgressors.

What term would the AP use for U.S. citizens who tried to barge illegally across other nations' borders? "Jailed Americans?" Maybe "dead Americans?"

Disagree with this, top to bottom.

I support a woman's right to have an abortion. That does not make me pro-abortion. I'm generally pretty anti-abortion, but for a variety of reasons, I think it should be a legal option. (I do think "anti-abortion" is a better label than "pro-life." I don't any abortion opponents would really argue that they are not anti-abortion.)

And it's hardly mumbo-jumbo to distinguish between a person and their actions. People are not "illegal." Entering the country without legal permission is illegal. "Illegal immigration" is an accurate and reasonable term. "Illegal immigrant" is not. I'm not a great fan of "undocumented," but at least it actually makes sense.

 

[Armchair_QB]

It's not a crime to be in the country without a visa. Sneaking into the country is a misdemeanor.

A misdemeanor isn't a crime?

Since when?

 

[Armchair_QB]

Let's just call them "Mexicans" and be done with it...

 

[Captain Obvious]

It's not a crime to be in the country without a visa. Sneaking into the country is a misdemeanor.

A misdemeanor isn't a crime?

Since when?

Just describing how using the term illegal immigrant is inaccurate to describe those who do not have a valid visa to be in the country, but entered legally. Therefore, they haven't committed a crime.

 

[Armchair_QB]

But a misdemeanor is a crime. Only an idiot would think otherwise.