____________ Immigrants?

On Tuesday, April 2, the Associated Press made a major change to their universal writing style guide restricting the use of the term “illegal immigrant” because of its offensive nature. They also will be stressing the importance of limiting alternative terms such as: “undocumented immigrant” and “unauthorized immigrant”. The problem with this is pretty obvious; these immigrants are in the United States illegally, undocumented, and unauthorized so if we aren’t allowed to refer to this large amount of people as such, how do they propose we identify them?

According to the statement made by the AP Vice-President and Executive Editor, Kathleen Carol, the term is being restricted to ensure AP’s responsibility “to use the most precise and accurate words so that the meaning is clear to any reader anywhere.” Instead of using the terms, journalists should describe the action the person is committing rather than accusing the person of an illegal act in a label. To me, this statement is a little contradictory because these people are committing an illegal act and the label is describing their action.

In my opinion, this has nothing to do with my views on policy or the proposed immigration reform plan. I am 100 percent for a reasonable plan of changing the immigration regulations and creating an easier path for those that are currently here illegally. I do however, think that changing this term, is limiting the seriousness of the situation and somewhat making it seem like the people it refers to are not doing anything wrong.

Our country would not be what it is today without immigration. We are all immigrants from somewhere and our ancestors went through much turmoil to achieve citizenship in America in hopes of a better future for themselves and their families. The illegal immigrants that are here today are going through the same turmoil and challenges but changing the term we refer to them as, in the press, does not change the fact that they are committing a crime.