



Is the term "illegal alien" racist? What is the appropriate term to describe the status of those who broke our laws either by illegally entering or over-staying the time allowed under a student, work or other temporary permit?



Cindy Rodriguez of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists considers the term "illegal" to be a pejorative, used by "reactionary commentators and politicians" and "radio talk shows."



"If you can control the words people use," Rodriguez says, "you can frame the issue... That's how propaganda works. Repeat the words continually until it reshapes the way people think."



Attorney Gloria Allred represented gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman's Mexican-born housekeeper. Allred said the term "alien" should apply only to those "from outer space."



Words matter.



The term "illegal alien" does not only apply, of course, to persons of Mexican or Hispanic heritage. "Illegal alien" is a race- and ethnicity-neutral term. The U.S. Code defines an "alien" as "any person not a citizen or national of the United States."





