Michelle Malkin: AP Wrong to Ban the Term “Illegal Immigrant”



“File this in the overflowing cabinet labeled, ‘No Wonder the Mainstream Media Is Dying.’ On Tuesday, the Associated Press announced that it is banishing the phrase ‘illegal immigrant’ from its famous stylebook. The world’s largest newsgathering outlet now advises reporters that ‘illegal’ will ‘only refer to an action, not a person,'” says Michelle Malkin.

“The AP directs writers not to use the terms ‘illegal alien, an illegal, illegals or undocumented’ anymore, except ‘in direct quotations.’ It won’t be long before illegal border crossers, illegal visa overstayers, illegal deportation evaders, document fraudsters, and illegal-alien traffickers are all referred to as ‘our fellow Americans.’ Without the quotations. Mark my words.”

About Author

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Dan is the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)'s President after joining the organization in 1982. He has testified more than 50 times before Congress, and been cited in the media as "America's best-known immigration reformer." Dan has appeared on virtually every significant TV and radio news/talk program in America and, in addition to being a contributing editor to ImmigrationReform.com, has contributed commentaries to a vast number of print media outlets.

53 Comments

  1. avatar
    John Winthrop on

    Dan,

    My mistake, my apologies………….I see you left Michelle Malkin’s background and did not censor it. So please disregard my last comment and I will continue to read FAIR.

    • avatar
      Melinda Hamlet on

      No wonder this country is bankrupt too much rights and benefits for illegal undocumented immigrants here, and to those people who toleraterate it , we are in a verge of being owned by China, we are going down coz of people like u why dont u just live in Mexico.

      • avatar
        JohnWinthrop on

        Well Melinda…..it comes to no surprise to me. You are partially right about China but please speak for yourself and your demographics of ruining our country which starts by people like you who do not understand English and have the ability to comprehend reading and misunderstands what mos people in a developed country are already very well developed …….the ability of read/write and speak a language in your case:e\ English.

  2. avatar
    John Winthrop on

    Dan this was the second time you censored Michelle’s Malkin background………………I thought you upheld an organization transparent to the truth for the benefit of The People………….what a disappointing………… I do not believe in your FAIR org anymore……………………………………I am out. After all you should read the Constitution and be FAIR………………………and be honest and not have people that are hypocrite of this issue which makes you look the same…………..so long…..good to know I have been wasting my time reading your posts….better now than ever…………my last comment..

  3. avatar

    If you are illiegal, alien or otherwise you are illegal. if the shoe fits wear it and don’t complain. They should and must be called Illegal Aliens.

  4. avatar

    How about we change the vernacular to one that will remind everyone just why the border is open to all traffic. Call them “Undocumented Future democrats” that way every one will be reminded just who it was that allowed this to happen.

  5. avatar
    John Winthrop on

    Seriously………………Michelle Malkin came to the the US at 8 months mother pregnancy…….they came to stay and she represents the dreamers………yet she is so against them….let’s be FAIR …my point being is…….just like Rubio……with a grand father coming illegally to the US…yet….they both go against their origins………….so what is so bad about this statement that is true and FAIR Dan……………….really.

  6. avatar

    I heard enough. When Commissioner Castillo was in office, he complained using the word ******** and illegal aliens to describe these border crossers. So, the service referred to them as undocumented immigrants. When Commissioner Napolitano is selected Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, She was offended by the word undocumented alien. I have a good word we can use and not offend too many people because this is the truth. If you brake the law of a foreign country, you’re referred too as being unlawfully in their country. Well, I think we should refer to them as international poacher or benefit-moocher. Maybe these two terms will be considered in lieu of those horrible terms: illegal alien or undocumented alien. Poacher and Moocher
    describe actions and not necessarily race.

  7. avatar
    Joh Winthrop on

    It is ironic that Michelle Malkin could be considered as an Ex- dreamer……………..and illegal herself……..her parents came here with the intention to stay when her mother was 8 months pregnant!!!……………..AMAZING!

  8. avatar

    all I read on the internet is people whinning about illegal alliens,but actually nothing is being done to stop them from coming here and getting food stamps so they can buy beer, free hospitals, better jobs then the american peolpe , they might as well open up the borders they are all in here now it is not 11mill not 22 mills but way more than that the old american people had the guts, and huevos to fight of england but are cowards when it comes to kicking the illegals back .hope I do not insult you but admit it a short skinny filthy illegal has beaten you up with the help of the politicians and the annointed one. just go ahead and bend over , crying on the internet only will not stop them from taking over what you have accomplished up to now.

  9. avatar

    I CONTINUE TO REFER TO ILLEGALS FROM ANY COUNTRY (NOT JUST MEXICO) AS ILLEGAL ALIENS, EVEN TO FLAMING LEFTY , CONFUSED, LEFTIES I MEET. IF THEY DO NOT LIKE IT—SO WHAT!! I WASN’T BORN TO BOW TO THEM OR PLEASE THEM!! THE CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS, REGARDLESS OF AFFILIATION, MUST GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS TO THE BARRIO AND ‘GHETTO’ PEOPLE THAT LEGALIZING MILLIONS OF ILLEGALS–FROM ALL COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE CHRISTIAN HATING RELIGIONS–WILL BE A SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DISASTER TO ALL WORKING CLASS AMERICANS. FOR INSTANCE, I ACTUALLY CONVINCED A GROUP OF ILLEGAL ALIEN MEXICAN ROOFERS THAT BRINGING IN MILLIONS OF MORE BODIES TO COMPETE FOR THE FEW JOBS AVAILABLE TO THEM WOULD BE LIKE CUTTING THEIR OWN THROATS., INCLUDING FIGHTING FOR MORE LIMITED MEDICAL CARE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.. “DO NOT BELIEVE THE SELF-SERVING ACTIVISTS, WHO ONLY GET RICHER AT OUR EXPENSE. NOR THE PHONEY POLITICIANS, AND INDUSTRIALISTS WHO WANT TO PAY LESS AND LESS AS MORE POOR PEOPLE FIGHT OVER THE FEW J0BS AVAILABLE TO TOO MANY WORKERS–JUST LIKE THEY DO IN COMMUNIST CHINA AND OTHER SLAVE LABOR NATIONS. DO NOT LET YOURSELF BE JUST A IDIOT PUPPET ON A STRING FOR THE POWERFUL GRABBERS IN THE LAND—JUST LIKE IN MEXICO!!” BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ALL THESE ROOFERS SAW THE LOGIC AND TRUTH IN WHAT I SAID!! I SAY TO THE CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS—GET MOVING ON THIS PATH OF TRUTH NOW—RELENTLESSLY, LIKE THE LGBT AND PRO-AMNESTY GROUPS ARE DOING EVERY DAY. TO SAVE OUR COUNTRY FORM SOCIAL AND ECONOMIIC DESTRUCTION—FOR OUR CHILDREN’S SAKE!!

  10. avatar

    Any person who enters the USA, not being a citizen thereof or having proper WRTTEN authoriztion to do so, is an ILLEGAL ALIEN. As such, they deserve none of the benefits or privileges accorded citizens or legal arrivals.

    I object to the calling of such “illegal immigrants,” because “immigrant,” implies a fait accompli (well they’re here, so we’ll have to deal with it somehow). It implies that somehow an illegal immigrant has some kind of status more privileged than an illegal alien.

    My ancestors, from four different nations, all arrived here and were issued DOCUMENTS in proper form. Thus, they were legal immigrants.

  11. avatar
    sherri palmer on

    Shut up, martinez, Michelle Malkin is speaking the truth, something you are not familiar with!

  12. avatar
    sherri palmer on

    I remember the night that an illegal, her last name is novoa, was on the Bill O’Reilly show and she stated that she wanted to ban the word “illegal” from the English language because it offends immigrants! Now I know this country has lost its mind, whatever illegals want illegals get that is our politicians motto! Well, just for the record they are still illegal aliens, illegal hoardes and illegal scum and I will refer to them as such…no illegal is taking my freedom of speech from me!

  13. avatar

    Actually, the correct term for an alien unlawfully present in the United States is “illegal alien.” “Immigrant” is a term used by the legacy INS and now by DHS to refer to an alien with an immigrant visa who appears before an immigration officer to apply for admission. It also refers to that alien after admission.

    All persons are either U.S. citizens or nationals, or aliens. An alien unlawfully present is referred to by the legacy INS and currently by DHS as an “illegal alien.” It is accurate because it diferentiates between a citizen/national and alienage. It also accurately and suscintly describes the aliens legal status in the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act, e.g. it is an alien who has not be admitted to the United States, parole, has remained in violation of the act beyond the date admitted to, or has violated the conditions of admission.

  14. avatar

    It is accurate to call aliens who come to the USA illegaly, or who overstay their visas, illegal aliens or illegal immigrants, so I will continue to call them that. They are not undocumented, as they all have documents which are stolen or fake. Liberals like to think of them as “Undocumented Democrat Voters.”

  15. avatar

    Wow, seriously idiotic move on part of AP. What exactly are they trying to prove? Gloried PC’ness—whatever. They probably hired illegals and their advocates demanded they eliminate from their vocabulary.

  16. avatar
    Stan Jackson on

    The correct term is “human.” Good to see the media catching up with the rest of us. And leaving extremists like Michelle Malkin in the dust.

    • avatar

      Re:Stan Jackson: ‘Good to see the media catching up to the rest us. Who the hell is “the rest of us? Overall,there are a lot more of “us” that are against amnesty for these ILLEGAL ALIENS. These “humans” cross the border illegally carrying dope,armed with AK-47’s, contributing to the decline in the American way of life and you are for them becoming citizens. You need to remove your blinders and realize that if the 11 or 12 million ILLEGAL ALIENS already in the country are granted amnesty,how many more ILLEGAL ALIENS would be entering the States and becoming citizens. Estimates are about another 12 million for a total of approximately 23 or 24 more. How trueths to feed,provide health care,give food stamps,not able to find jobs,pushing Americans out of specific jobs and you badmouth Michell Malkin as an “EXTREMIST? I have to agree with you,she is an extremist,extreme in her love for this country and willing to do whatever it takes to help us back on the road to recovery. You ,sir,are the extremist…. Jay Leno hit the nail on the head when he said AP,since they do not want to call ILLEGALS by their actual situation,he proposes we change “ILLEGAL ALIENs to the more apt description of these people,UNDOCUMENTED DEMOCRATS”

    • avatar

      Stan, with all due respect (e.g. none); give it a rest with the Politically Correct (e.g. cancer on our society), Kumbaya, Buy the world a Coke mentality.

      There are illegal aliens and there are legal aliens. Legal aliens are in the country of their choice legally. Illegal aliens are criminals in the country they despoil with their very presence.

      Tell you what Stan; put your money where your mouth is and house, feed, clothe, educate, take to the doctor an illegal alien or two. I’m sick of my tax dollars going to these people. You want them, you pay for them.

    • avatar

      Stan maybe lives in California. He definitely would fit right in. A state that has destroyed itself, and put itself hundreds of billions in long term debt, and still insists that allowing millions of the poor of another country to settle there illegally.

    • avatar

      What an idiotic statement. Why not call aliens who come to the USA illegally – illegal aliens? Michelle Malkin is not an extremist, she is a conservative who speaks her mind. This PC bullsh*t has got to stop.

    • avatar

      You obviously don’t live near a major illegal alien transit zone or assembly point, where drugs, prostitution and crime are rampant on small American town and villages. Bet you think it takes a village to raise a child when it just takes two parents.

    • avatar

      Everyone is human. There are far more deserving humans who could be allowed to come here to the USA than the ill educated, diseased, law breaking Mexicans coming over here in the millions !!

      The fact is that these illegals should be treated just like ALL nations treat non-citizens. They have no rights and no access to health or other benefits.

      We have committed a major mistake giving amnesty in 1986 and this incoming of louts will never end. I shudder to think what my children and their children will have to cope with.

  17. avatar

    The correct phrase is “illegal aliens”. Alien is a correct used by immigration officials and IRS officials as well. I just looked at a tax form and instructions aht it refers to “resident alien” and non-resident alien” If an alien is in the country illegally, they area an “illegal alien”. Quite simple, really. I am sorry of the the truth and accuracy of the phrase might hurt someone’s feelings (not).

  18. avatar

    These illegals start on the public dole and can now continue that way. Call them “Congressmen”.

  19. avatar

    Let us, not forget, these illegal aliens are also bringing in diseases, TB has been rising at a faster rate. These illegal aliens our not even vaccinated, and have all types of diseases, I can say that, because I’ve been in the medical profession for 40 years now, and I’ve seen them coming into hospitals here in Southern California, by the hundreds.
    In past, legal immigrants were given physicals , and had to have a clean bill of health, it’s only common sense. Unfortunately, our president and his followers, just want the vote, they don not care about anything else, give everyone everything.

    • avatar

      Yep, the disease thing is correct. Even in the SF area they had illegals in the county hospital dying from some blood parasites that eventurally eat your brain. Yet, restaurant owners hiring them to save a buck and infest the patrons with contaminated foods that they’re handling. TB is just a tip fo th iceberg of what the illegals, being unscreened, are bringing to this country in droves.

  20. avatar

    When we didn’t like the governing and taxing, and wanted our freedom, we fought, the French and British to win these things. I say, these illegal aliens need to stay in their own countries and fight r=for what they want, as we’ve had to do. But, no, they want to sneak into our country illegally, and suck off the system, and 90% these people refuse to speak english, as immigrants (not illegal) who came to america did learn english, and created their own jobs as cobblers, tailors, carpenters, bakers and such. The not wanting to learn english alone, has cost billions of our dollars to create bi-lingual schools ( two schools in one), we’ve had to print everything in their language, so now the other languages insist we do, I mean, what is that all about, are we creating another Babylon, where nobody knows who’s saying what?

    • avatar

      I agree completely with your point. I dont understand why we are writing everything in Spanish. This is rampant everywhere. In shops – on labels for all kinds of products. If you go to say Mexico or Spain or France they wont speak English or start writing in it for your sake. Are we on the planet of the apes? Everything is becoming upside down.

      The one common language of English is what made America great!! Europe is trying to unify but they cannot – multiple languages and cultures. WE are destroying our one culture and language. WHO is ACTUALLY DOING THIS and WHY>???? Really it seems like a major conspiracy !!

      • avatar

        The Federal Government started and continues to perpetrate these crimes upon the American people and the USA (via illegal invasion unfettered) by blatantly not acknowledging and applying U.S. Immigration laws. And they do it before our very eyes.

  21. avatar

    Michelle, you are so right in your article. They ARE illegal aliens, a foreigner who has entered or resides in a country UNLAWFULLY, or without the country’s authorization.Unlawful, not conforming to, or permitted by, or recognized by laws or rules. I mean, what is so hard about that? Obama and his ‘people’, just want to keep American citizens under his thumb, where he has control. How does amnesty help the poor , and middle class live better lives by allowing amnesty to law breakers, who will continue to suck off of our economy. Letting illegal aliens into our Country just adds to the unemployment figures, and more people to dish out money, and medical care we don’t have. If anything, this is an injustice to these illegal, law breaking people.

  22. avatar

    FAIR, you should start a tongue-in-cheek contest to find the best politically correct euphemisms for all different kinds of crimes.

    For example, a drug dealer is an “unlicensed pharmacist.”

    It’ll be funny and instructive.

    • avatar

      Hilarious, Matt! It is also a classic illustration of how euphemisms work. So, remember, if someone breaks into your house, calling him a burglar might be offensive and will certainly upset the PC Kops. Just call the police and tell them that your home has been visited by a redistribution agent.

  23. avatar
    Seabee Bauman on

    I agree with her. They are NOT immigrants, they are Illegal Insurgents invading our country!!!

  24. avatar

    Gosh, you’d think “Illegal immigrant” would be a step up from some other designations. What happened to the
    correct term, “illegal alien?” I’ve even seen “undocumented Americans” suggested. This is insanity. If you were caught entering Mexico without permission, they wouldn’t stop to argue about what to call you. You’d be thrown in one of their hellhole jails or worse. Yet, we, the most pc country in the world, choose to welcome them and shower them with goodies.

  25. avatar
    Jeffrey R. Espina on

    A world gone mad. George Orwell far outstrips Nostradamus, whose predictions can have many interpretations. Orwell’s vision was rather precise and specific. Here we see his envisioned use of “newspeak”. If the thing is inimical to your agenda, change its label and make it seem other than what it is.

    President Obama and his Progressive minions remind me of President Lincoln. Not because they resemble him, but because it was he who said: “You can fool all of the people some of the time and you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time”.

    I hope that more Americans will wake up and see the lie.

  26. avatar

    The Downing of America by these Illegals breaking our establish laws and the dumb Government holding the door open. so they can keep voting them in another term. When will America wake up, follow the correct procedure. “America is the land of legal immigrants not illegal immigrants”.

    • avatar

      Good for you Ernest, that took courage. I have so much trouble understanding why legal immigrants and their American future generations support illegals because they are of Spanish ancestory. In fact the illegals just bring resentments and grief on those who have legally chosen to be Americans made up of hundreds of other ancestorys

    • avatar
      chuck newman on

      how about, maybe, unwelcome invaders ? or, as has been suggested by Jay Leno, undocumented Democrats ?

    • avatar

      Nanette, you have great point. The Mexicans are coming here in such large numbers that it truly IS an invasion.

      Yes I do believe the ‘ILLEGAL ‘ problem is mostly Mexicans but all Illegals need to be stopped – we need our laws to be enforced !

  27. Pingback: Associated Press will no longer use “illegal immigrant” | MediaNews Florida

    • avatar
      Anne Latella on

      I will use the term illegal wherever & wherever it applies. It applies to people who enter this country without going through legal entrance and so does undocumented worker. This is my right under our Constitution which grants “Freedom Of Speech.” What are they now going to prosecute criminals by saying “We have before us a person who made a mistake,Not a person who is a criminal & committed an illegal act? Ridiculous. Who do we have to call to find out every t me we speak if it is o.k. for us to say anything?

  28. avatar

    What Ms. Malkin is doing is encouraging UNAMERICAN censorship!!! Now words are being controlled.. Plain and simple.

    • avatar

      Unamerican? It’s Unamerican to enter our country illegally. They are illegal alien invaders. Period.

  29. avatar

    Call ‘Em Undocumented Immigrants Then

    It focuses on the lie the open border can count ’em anyway; but open border American employers hire ’em and lie they did it unknowingly to escape immigration law prosecution.

    The real joke is open border Walmart….now they’ll give our unemployed returning Vets 500,000 jobs in the next decade…yes Walmart, you know the business that pays minimum unlivable wages with no benefits [visualize the returning vets smiling with missing teeth, exclaiming, “welcome to Walmart”].

    • avatar

      I work for Walmart and make much more than minimum wage – have very good health insurance and other benefits – I also know co-workers that refuse the benefits because they dont want to pay any portion to have health care/insurance and perfer to utilize Medicaid instead – so do you really know what you are talking about?? when did you work for Walmart – many years ago – are you up to date on your information, What does your company pay you and what benefits to you get hot shot -software engineer. I’m really tired of people that make comments about items they know nothing about – not everyone working for Walmart is RETARDED – perhaps they are where you come from. The people that whine the loudest are also the people that do not work that hard for themselves or their families and just coast throught the day on other peoples coattails and speak badly about certain companies in the USA – why dont you develop or fix the problems you have with your info. instead of deflecting you misinformed information on a company that can and does provide a very good living for some people and provides alot of donations for the children in this country that need help with the Childrens Network and other good works they are involved with that they dont BRAG about in the news.

      Not sure you know what you are talking about?????

    • avatar
      John Winthrop on

      softwarengineer what is your opinion about Michelle Malkin who entered the US with the intention no differently from a Dream Act student?