US under Biden will no longer call migrants 'illegal aliens'

Employees of two main U.S. immigration enforcement ncies were directed Monday to stop referring to migrants as “aliens,” a dated term that many people consider offensive.

Memos issued by Customs and Border Protection, as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, recommend that nts inste use words “n-citizen” or “migrant." change reflect guidelines set by Biden ministration, which is reversing many of anti-immigrant policies of former President Donald Trump.

Inste of “illegal aliens,” which was still being used by some government officials in press releases and elsewhere, employees of CBP and ICE should inste use “undocumented ncitizen” or “undocumented individual,” according to memos.

Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller said directives were necessary to “set a tone and example” at an ncy that includes Border Patrol.

“We enforce our nation’s laws while also maintaining dignity of every individual with whom we interact,” Miller said. “ words we use matter and will serve to furr confer that dignity to those in our custody.”

ministration critics dismissed new langu guidelines.

“We use term ‘illegal alien’ because y’re here illegally,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas. “This kind of weakness and obsession with political correctness is why we’re having a crisis on border in first place.”

change in langu comes as Biden ministration deals with a record number of children and teens, mostly from Central America, seeking to enter U.S. at southwest border.

Under new guidelines, “unaccompanied alien children” would be referred to as “unaccompanied ncitizen children,” according to memos. Employees are also directed to describe “assimilation” of refugees and immigrants as “civic integration.”

CBP is turning away most ult migrants attempting to enter U.S. under a public health order issued at start of COVID-19 pandemic. But Biden ministration is allowing unaccompanied mirs and some families to remain, at least temporarily, while authorities determine wher y can stay through asylum process or under or legal category.

Biden ministration officials blame rising number of migrants at southwest border on a number of factors, including two recent hurricanes that struck Central America and ecomic ravs of COVID-19 in region.

Critics blame ministration, which has begun to reverse some of hundreds of measures taken under President Donald Trump to curb both legal and illegal immigration and which has backed legislation that would enable some alrey in country to remain.