People who enter America illegally or overstay their visas aren’t “illegal immigrants.” They’re “out of status” new Americans, Dem Rep. John Conyers explained at a House Judiciary hearing on immigration Tuesday.

Conyers: "I hope nobody uses the term 'illegal immigrant'…they are out of status" #CIR #immigration #HJC — Seth Freed Wessler (@SethFW) February 5, 2013

When I break the law will you call me "new" or "out of status," too, Rep. Conyers? More lib hypocrisy. @RichLowry @michellemalkin — Matt Gull (@matt_gull) February 5, 2013

Conyers also called illegal immigrants “citizens” before catching himself:

I hope no one uses the term “illegal immigrants” here today. Our citizens are not … the people in this country are not illegal, they are out of status, they are new Americans that are immigrants, and I think that we can forge a path to citizenship that will be able to pass muster.

VIDEO – Rep. Conyers at immigration hearing, 'I hope no one uses the term 'illegal immigrants' here today…' – http://t.co/nkPx4xmA — National Review (@NRO) February 5, 2013

Video via NRO: