AP will no longer use the term "Illegal Immigrant" or "Illegal" when describing a person that out of legal status in the United States.
AP Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll explains the thinking behind the decision saying"
[AP] no longer sanctions the term “illegal immigrant” or the use of “illegal” to describe a person. Instead, it tells users that “illegal” should describe only an action, such as living in or immigrating to a country illegally.
It's offensive to say that a person is
Illegal or an
Illegal Immigrant and now the press is finally starting to realize it.
When you label someone an "illegal alien" or "illegal immigrant" or just plain "illegal," you are effectively saying the individual, as opposed to the actions the person has taken, is unlawful. The terms imply the very existence of an unauthorized migrant in America is criminal.
Hopefully, we here at Dkos will take this to heart when writing and tagging diaries and when we discus immigrants and workers residing here in the USA.
Finally, were seeing real change in our societies tolerance and acceptance of anti immigrant, anti Latino language. When the press stops dehumanizing immigrants and Latinos all of our perceptions will change. When perceptions change, intolerance and racism can not thrive.
We have to, even here at Dkos, be aware that dehumanizing terminology is for Republicans. When we stand up and say the dehumanizing language is a slur and racist, then things can change.
Even John Boehner thinks Don Young's Wetback comment is "offensive and beneath the dignity of the office."
When Boehner states this and no Republicans lash back at him you know that times are changing for the better in America.
Illegal immigrants are a thing of the past.