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The Biden administration is reportedly urging officials in the Department of Homeland Security to use more inclusive terms for immigrants in their internal and external communications.

The changes include using the word noncitizen instead of alien, and undocumented noncitizen or undocumented individual instead of illegal alien, according to Axios and other media.

The memo, seen by several news sites, is from acting director Tracy Renaud of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and encourages "more inclusive language in the agency's outreach efforts, internal documents and in overall communication with stakeholders, partners and the general public."

Alien is currently defined in U.S. statute as any person not a citizen or national of the United States, according to U.S. Code, which keeps track of terms and subject matter definitions for Congress. However, it has taken on derogatory meanings.

In a statement to FOX News, a USCIS spokesman said the changes in language do not apply to everything. "The guidance does not affect legal, policy or other operational documents, including forms, where using terms (such as applicant, petitioner, etc.) as defined by the Immigration and Nationality Act would be the most appropriate."

The changes seem inline with an immigration reform bill proposed by the Biden administration, which seeks to replace terminology in U.S. immigration laws.

Included in the fact sheet for the proposed U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, is a mention that the bill would remove the word alien from immigration laws and replace it with noncitizen. According to the fact sheet, the change recognizes America as a nation of immigrants.

The Associated Press stylebook, which helps define terms and usage for many journalists across dozens of media outlets, dropped the term illegal immigrant in 2013 and recommended against using the term alien. At the time, the AP said the word illegal should be used to describe an action, not a person.

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DHS officials urged to use more inclusive language about immigrants, stop using alien - Fox17

Adonahi Mezawas 7 years old when he and his sisters were brought to the United States from Mexico, much like640,000 other undocumented children. Since 2004-2005, Meza has resided in Athens. During Mezas senior year of high school, he acquired a renewable two-year protection from deportation and eligibility for a work permit and driver's license through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which would allow him to attend Athens Technical College.

Shortly after being sworn into office, President Joe Biden sent a sweeping immgration proposal to Congress. The proposal calls for a fast-track path to citizenship for dreamers, TPS holders and some immigrant farmworkers. For local DACA recipients and undocumented people, this brings forth faith.

Under the immgration bill, DACA recipients would be eligible for a green card after living in the U.S. for five years, and could immediately apply for citizenship, while undocumented people would have to wait three more years after receiving their green card to apply for citizenship.

As both chambers of Congress have an adequate number of Democrats, this provides the opportunity for the bill to move forward.

They've been waiting their whole life for this bill, said JoBeth Allen, Co-Founder of U-Lead, an organization that helps immigrant students and students from immigrant families access and prepare for higher education. We've been through four years of terror where nobody felt safe.

Under the University System of Georgia policies 4.3.4. and 4.1.6., DACA recipients are prohibited from attending five of the states top universities; this would include theUniversity of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia College and State University, the Medical College of Georgia and Georgia State University.

For Meza, the biggest change this would bring is the ability to access a permit or green card. That way, he would not have to fear deportation.

Its not healthy for a kid or anybody else to go with the fear of, Am I [still] going to have my dad if we go to Walmart? Meza said. Having some sort of type of driver's license or green card will definitely help us.

Balbina Ramos, a DACA recipient who has resided in Athens since she was 3 years old and now attends Delaware State University, considers this country her home. During the Trump administration, Ramos had many sleepless nights worrying if she or her family would forcibly be moved back to Mexico.

I couldn't focus in school, couldn't do normal tasks, because I was so stressed thinking, What's going to happen if I have to leave this country? Ramos said. I have family in Mexico, but I don't know them I've never met them before and [that] is a foreign country to me. All I want is a legal path to citizenship.

In 2013, former President Barack Obamas administration offered a similar proposalto Bidens immigration plan.

Kristen Shepherd, a staff attorney for the Community Health Law Partnership Clinic at the University of Georgia School of Law, said politicians commonly use executive orders for progressive immigration policies. However, Biden is looking to pass legislation.

[Executive orders are] where those arguments are coming up about how the administrations not following the legislative process, or not doing a notice and comment period, with the new regulations and all of these technical requirements that happened through the legislative process, Shepherd said. If Biden is going to continue pushing through via legislation as opposed to the executive order, then I think that those challenges become less of an issue.

Ramos believes there is a higher chance of approval from congress for citizenship involving dreamers and TPS holders, but anticipates pushback from lawmakers on immigrants.

By mounting pressure onto Biden and his administration, as well as Congress, Ramos hopes this will lead to meaningful change where past efforts for immigration reform have failed.

If we don't pressure him to pressure Congress, and if we don't pressure Congress, it's not going to get done at all. I have been looking at the proposals it's going to be very hard, Ramos said.

Meza believes politicians need to be held accountable for immigration policy, since in the past they have felt short of their promises on immgration reform, such as when the Supreme Court tied and deadlocked Obamas immigration proposal.

We need to know who is actually fighting for us, Meza said.

Read this article:
Athens dreamers find new hope in Biden congressional bill for pathway to citizenship - Red and Black

1. Biden's Immigration Reform Plan Shouldn't Ignore Enforcement  Bloomberg
2. President Bidens immigration reforms may not be in time to help mother, daughter at border on the verge of d  MassLive.com
3. What to Expect From Biden's Immigration Policies  Foreign Policy
4. Fixing broken immigration system will aid NC workers  Raleigh News & Observer
5. Editorial: Immigration orders needed to halt cruel policies  San Antonio Express-News
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

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Biden's Immigration Reform Plan Shouldn't Ignore Enforcement - Bloomberg

Demonstrators hold illuminated signs during a rally supporting the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA), or the Dream Act, outside the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., Jan. 18, 2018.

Zach Gibson | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Thursday introduced the latest iteration of the Dream Act, part of a new immigration reform push.

The proposed legislation, first introduced in 2001, would give some young, undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children the opportunity to pursue a path toward American citizenship.

The reintroduction comes as President Joe Biden begins rolling out his immigration reform agenda and aims to reverse many of President Donald Trump's immigration policies.

In 2012, President Barack Obama created the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals program after the Dream Act failed to pass in Congress several times.

DACA protects the young undocumented immigrants who would be impacted by the Dream Act from deportation. The policy does not provide a path to citizenship.

Trump sought to end DACA during his presidency, but the Supreme Court blocked his administration's attempt in June. On Jan. 20, Biden signed an executive order preserving DACA.

"It is clear that only legislation passed by Congress can give Dreamers the chance they deserve to earn their way to American citizenship," Durbin said in a statement Thursday.

The Dream Act would grant some young, undocumented immigrants lawful permanent residence and eventually American citizenship if they meet certain criteria, including graduating from high school or earning a GED; pursuing higher education, working or serving in the military; and passing background checks.

The Dream Act of 2021 is identical to versions introduced by Durbin and Graham in the past two sessions of Congress, the senators say.

Graham indicated in a statement Thursday he would like to pass the Dream Act not as a standalone bill, but rather as part of a comprehensive immigration package.

"I believe it will be a starting point for us to find bipartisan breakthroughs providing relief to the Dreamers and also repairing a broken immigration system," Graham said.

In the last 15 years, Congress has not passed a comprehensive immigration bill.

About three-quarters of Americans support granting permanent legal status to undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, according to a June Pew Research Center survey.

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Bipartisan pair of senators reintroduces immigration reform bill protecting 'Dreamers' - CNBC

Years ago, my family had to fight US immigration offices tirelessly for my fathers chance to be a citizen. This was under the Obama administration whom many had championed as progressive for immigrants. My mom became a single mother for nearly a year all while juggling two children, lawyer fees, her undergraduate coursework, and a full-time job. She became a hero to me. As inspiring as that is, it makes me wonder why families even have to be separated in the first place. My father used to tell me the pain and struggle of what being undocumented looks like. He told me stories of fathers who had to watch their children grow up between the thin plastic slides of ICE detention centers. Without a lawyer, which most cant afford, I likely wouldnt have seen my father for decades. I like to think that maybe things will change, but change doesnt come from inaction. To get the widespread change Americans deserve, and by Americans I mean all Americans, we need to hold this administration accountable.

Truth be told, DACA isnt as controversial as people make it out to be. In fact, its sort of the bare minimum of what the American public expects to pass. Nearly 83% of Americans support immigration reform for children who arrived here illegally and want them to have a shot at citizenship. Not just this, but the requirements for DACA recipients are just extraneous and would oftentimes be downright unfeasible for most Duke students. Its no wonder why opinion has shifted in favor of DACA, the recipients are vetted beyond belief. Valeria Silombria, a senior Political Science major at Duke and DACA recipient, echoes this sentiment. She stated I am feeling hopeful about the Biden-Harris administration. I am appreciative of their plans for Dreamers pathway to citizenship; however, I think that DACA recipients are the most privileged among the undocumented community (because we get a work permit, drivers license, and protection from deportation). There are a lot of undocumented students who unfortunately dont qualify for this program because of the date they entered the U.S. or other circumstances. Also, DACA recipients parents dont get any benefit from the DACA program. I would really like to see justice for all these individuals too and not just us Dreamers.

To clarify, there isnt anything wrong with ensuring protection from DACA. What is wrong is how delayed the responses have been to it. The expectations for this upcoming administration are milestones that shouldve come a decade ago. Not just this, but these protections likely wont extend to the families of DACA recipients with a 50-50 split US Senate. Damary Gutierrez Hernandez, a junior at Duke majoring in Statistical Science and also a DACA recipient, stated At this point, I wonder what my parents are going to do. They have been here a very long time and their situation has stayed the same despite multiple changes in administration. They have sacrificed everything for me and my family to have the American dream. Despite this, their chance will be one of the first things cut by the 'moderate' vote. People dont think about the individuals going through this experience unless they place these great expectations on them. It almost feels like by elevating DACA students and not their entire families, they are placing a barrier between those who do or dont deserve it. The public opinion on who can receive DACA is sort of toxic. Who is anyone to say that someone doesnt or does deserve DACA?

The Biden Administration has made boldness a focal point of its immigration reform. While I certainly agree these last two senate races and putting DACA on the agenda were wins for progressives, that doesnt mean the fight is over. Justice is a lot more than equality. Justice looks like long-term organizing in the name of ending separating families. Even if the last Democratic administration didnt build cages for children, the fact that cages were built at all should sound the alarms for what we may see moving forward. Not just this, but President Bidens call to end private prisons doesnt include immigrant detention facilities. I agree that former President Trumps immigration policies were abhorrent, separating families and forced hysterectomies were simply unprecedented. However, this doesnt mean a repeal of those policies will insure a better quality of life for DACA, undocumented, and permanent residents. The stress, anxiety and fear will remain for many of these Americans. Just because the bar is below the ground doesnt mean we should remain minimal in our expectations. Without permanent legal protections, the risk of repeating Trumps atrocities remains at large.

Lastly, I would like to end with things that can be done to help support those fighting the immigration system. First off, the Informed Immigrant site provides a full guide to legal rights and finds local lawyers willing to work pro-bono to fight off immigration services. If you want to do one better, try to donate money to these programs. Second, hundreds of Duke students have signed this petition demanding Duke University declare itself a sanctuary campus but as of July 31st, 2020 there seems to be no formal announcement declaring it as one. Though Trump is no longer president, a move like this would be a sigh of relief and comfort for many Duke students. Administration changes, no matter how big or small, doesnt mean we stop fighting. Third, please help organize. Organizing consists of helping community leaders gather resources and people to support the cause. Georgia was a perfect example of what can happen when people get behind grassroots organizations and fight for longterm change. You can make a difference. Even if undocumented and DACA students dont have a vote themselves, students like Duke Senior and Statistical Science major Salvador Chavero have shown mobilization at Duke is possible. Last but not least, call your congressional representatives and urge them to push resolutions introduced by the Biden administration forward. Change is possible, but only if we support each other to get there.

I thank Salvador Chavero, Damary Gutierrez Hernandez, and Valeria Silombria for their incredible insight and help with this article. Undocumented, DACA, permanent residents, and international students fighting immigration services often go unnoticed at Duke. If there is anything anyone fighting these issues could take away from reading this column, please know youre not alone in this fight.

Anthony Salgado is a Trinity first-year. His column runs on alternate Fridays.

Originally posted here:
We need immigration revolution, not immigration reform - The Chronicle - Duke Chronicle