New Biden policy orders end use of terms ‘alien,’ ‘illegal alien’ and ‘assimilation’ among US immigration agencies

May 19, 2021

By Jessica Cerrito
Staff Writer

President Joe Biden’s administration issued a memo on April 19 ordering immigration agencies in the United States to end the use of terms including “alien,” “illegal alien” and “assimilation.” Tae Johnson and Troy Miller, the acting heads of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, detailed the updated language to align with the Biden administration’s guidance regarding immigration terminology.

The term “alien” will be replaced with terms such as “noncitizen” or “migrant,” “illegal alien” with “undocumented citizen” or “undocumented individual” and “assimilation” with “integration.”

Mr. Clifford, who teaches Advanced Placement Government & Politics and U.S. History, said this is a step in the right direction.

“The change in vocabulary helps create a more inclusive culture within the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. All individuals are human beings and world citizens, and I believe the change in vocabulary will foster a culture of dignity and respect for those seeking refugee status,” Clifford said. “The goal is for undocumented individuals to become productive members of society and eventually attain citizenship status. When these individuals feel welcomed, they will then feel more secure in their pursuit of citizenship status.”

Clifford said he believes the term “illegal alien” is derogatory.

“I have had many students over the years who have been called ‘illegal aliens.’ I think it’s demeaning and creates a divisive culture. Many undocumented individuals are children, and the difficulties that come with immigrating to a new country are difficult enough,” Clifford said.

Senior Abida Iqbal also said this change in terminology is a positive step because she said the terms “illegal alien” and “assimilation” are dehumanizing.

“Many individuals do not take into account that the ‘illegal aliens’ they are referring to are actually human beings and that calling them these phrases will not make them feel like a human but a crime,” Iqbal said. “These phrases are being deployed so commonly that we may not even notice how much of these damaging terms are deliberate.”

Iqbal said she wishes the terms Biden outlined in his directive had always been used by the U.S.’s immigration agencies. Although she was happy to hear about the new order, she said it will not cause people to regain trust in American immigration agencies because too much damage has already been done.

“Many orders can be passed in preventing harmful actions, but that does not easily rekindle relations and cause people to easily trust and rely on these immigration agencies,” Iqbal said.

“I have had many students over the years who have been called ‘illegal aliens.’ I think it’s demeaning and creates a divisive culture. Many undocumented individuals are children, and the difficulties that come with immigrating to a new country are difficult enough.”

Spanish teacher Señora Veiga, who advises the International Culture Club, said there is a stigma surrounding those who have immigrated to the United States.

“I am an immigrant to this country and have witnessed many horrific examples of discrimination and bias. My personal story has been wonderful, leading to a successful life for all of my family members. I understand both sides and respect different viewpoints,” Veiga said. “We tend to only think of an illegal immigrant as someone crossing our southern border and causing havoc when in reality, there are many ways of arriving into the United States, many different ethnicities that arrive and many reasons for fleeing countries.”

Veiga said the recent change in terminology is a step forward on a positive path. She said it will not make a huge impact but will promote unity and humanize immigration.

“It may be a start to solving what is admittedly a huge problem. I know that personally I would have appreciated not being labeled an alien,” Veiga said. “Even at the ripe age of seven, I felt weird about that word, and its association with the foreign and unknown.”