Mediaboss Marketing

Laredo is getting mixed reactions to the updated terminology for immigrants who had crossed the border illegally.

In a memo by Troy A. Miller, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner, it establishes updated terminology for U.S. Customs and Border Protection communications and materials.

Changes mentioned in the memo are alien for noncitizen or migrant, alienage for noncitizenship, unaccompanied alien children to noncitizen unaccompanied children illegal alien to undocumented noncitizen, undocumented individual or migrant, among others.

In response to the vision set by the Administration, CBP will ensure agency communications use the preferred terminology and inclusive language as outlined below. This guidance applies to communications such as agency outreach efforts, internal documents and overall communications with stakeholders, partners and the general public, the memo reads.

For immigration attorney and former councilmember Nelly Vielma, this change was long overdue.

Its about time that the human dignity of people, refugees, immigrants and other displaced human beings are given an appropriate name. For many years, our countrys laws have labeled people in the immigration system as aliens or illegals, Vielma said. We may see it as a term to refer to people as foreigners, but ask yourselves, how would you and your family feel with that label if you were in their shoes? Although it may seem as a minor change, I hope the migrant community will be treated with dignity and respect, which is the expectation as our system slowly changes the labels to remove the negative connotations.

Agent Hector Garza, president of the National Border Patrol Council-Local 2455, said that under the Biden administration, agents received new guidance and updated terminology. But he pointed out that this memo still allows agents to continue using the same terminology under the Immigraction and Nationality Act as mentioned in the second paragraph of the memo.

As needed and appropriate, CBP may use applicable terms defined in the Immigration Nationality Act in legal or operational documents, including when completing required forms, particularly where legally required or necessary to ensure the procedural rights of those whom CBP encounters, states the memo.

Garza added, What is interesting is that it appears the Biden administration is trying to at peace immigrant rights groups.

Garza pointed out that agents are trained under the law to use the term alien under the Immigration and Nationality Act. That terminology is ingrained in agents because those are the terms members of congress approved, Garza said.

Nothing is going to change. Illegal aliens will still be illegal aliens, he said.

For Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, he briefly mentioned during a news conference on another topic that he can understand some people are trying to be politically correct.

But if you look at what the statute says, they do use the word alien. Thats what the statute does. Unless the statute changes, some of us will continue to use the word alien on that. Thats just what the statute says right now, and I dont think the statute is going to be changed, Cuellar said.

Words matter but the question is, which words, in what circumstances are those words going to be used, the congressman mentioned.

The word alien is used in the statute. Its been used for many years. But theres a new thinking that they want to use something. I think right now that as long as the statute is there, I probably will be using the word alien. Thats the word thats in the statute until we change that.

Cuellar went on to say that while people focus on words, the focus should be shifted to stopping the flow of people coming in and handling the flow that is already in the country.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also released a statement regarding the updated terminology.

Consistent with the Biden Administrations goals to foster inclusion and build a more fair and humane immigration system, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is adopting terminology to help rebuild public trust and reshape the agency image. The change reflects ICEs commitment to treat everyone with whom we interact with respect and dignity while still enforcing our nations laws, ICE said in a statement.

An official also stated that ICE will make efforts to avoid using terminology that might be perceived by others as offensive or otherwise disparaging. The official also mentioned that ICE leadership will no longer use terms such as alien or illegal in internal or external public facing documents and communications.

Continue reading here:
Scratch of illegal alien term gets mixed reaction in Laredo - Laredo Morning Times