Another news organization has revised its editorial style on immigration terminology. USA Today, according to a memo obtained by Jim Romenesko, will stop using the term “illegal immigrant” unless it is used in a direct quote.
“The term illegal immigration is acceptable, but do not label people as illegal immigrants, except in direct quotes,” William Coon wrote in a memo to staff Wednesday evening. “Undocumented immigrant, undocumented worker and unauthorized immigrant are acceptable terms — depending on accuracy, clarity and context — for foreign nationals who are in the country illegally. An alternative is to use a phrase such as “people who entered the U.S. illegally” or “living in the country without legal permission.”
USA Today’s decision comes on the heels of a similar move by the Associated Press, which dropped the phrase from its stylebook earlier this month.
