Latino Reporter Digital is a team of students and professional journalists covering the annual convention of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. During the convention, our site replaces NAHJ's homepage.
What do you think of the term illegal alien and how do you feel about the way the media uses the term? — Compiled by Gloria Romano, Latino Reporter Digital Staff.
Well, for me illegal alien is offensive because it refers to people as if they were from another planet when they are humans like everyone else. They are just looking for better opportunities and they are coming to this country to work not to play around and do nothing. The bigger media like CNN began using it and then the smaller media rely on it, but they are not really conscious about what it means to the public, especially to Latin people.
— Nilda Melissa Diaz Rodriguez, Student Projects, Latino Reporter Staff-Spanish, San Juan, P.R.
I feel offended because you are talking about human beings, about people, it’s not that you are discussing an object. I’m a believer that the media should have as much freedom as it needs, so if those media outlets decide to use that term they have the right to do it, but I think they are doing it for a purpose, either to sell more news or to scare or even exploit people here.
— Yonny Aguilar, Student Projects, Latino Reporter Staff-Spanish, Washington D.C.
Living on the border that’s something I deal with all the time. It seems outdated when we can live with undocumented immigrant or even just the word illegal immigrant. I mean, there are so many terms to use other than the term alien. I think (the media) are a little outdated. I think the word undocumented immigrant is pretty accurate and unbiased and it doesn’t convey any sort of prejudice.
—Gustavo Reveles Acosta, Education Reporter, El Paso Times
As a Latino, I’ve always felt proud of who I am, so I don’t care. I don’t have a problem. I was illegal then, now I’m legal and I don’t care. There are more important issues to deal with.
—Mario Barraza, News Photographer, KSTK TV, San Francisco
I think it’s a word that makes you think of a negative concept because the word alien, which makes you think of something that is unknown or something that doesn’t belong here, just makes you think of something that you want to reject, or something that might be dangerous to you. I think it’s a very technical word and it takes away the personal element.
—Karla Gomez, Student Projects/ El Noticiero 2006, New Mexico State University
I think its offensive. It’s better and more applicable to find the right word like for example, undocumented immigrant, or just nothing that sounds so offensive.
—Cristina Fernández, Reporter at El Nuevo Dia, Orlando, Fl.
Well, for me illegal alien is offensive because it refers to people as if they were from another planet when they are humans like everyone else. They are just looking for better opportunities and they are coming to this country to work not to play around and do nothing. The bigger media like CNN began using it and then the smaller media rely on it, but they are not really conscious about what it means to the public, especially to Latin people.
I feel offended because you are talking about human beings, about people, it’s not that you are discussing an object. I’m a believer that the media should have as much freedom as it needs, so if those media outlets decide to use that term they have the right to do it, but I think they are doing it for a purpose, either to sell more news or to scare or even exploit people here.
Living on the border that’s something I deal with all the time. It seems outdated when we can live with undocumented immigrant or even just the word illegal immigrant. I mean, there are so many terms to use other than the term alien. I think (the media) are a little outdated. I think the word undocumented immigrant is pretty accurate and unbiased and it doesn’t convey any sort of prejudice.
As a Latino, I’ve always felt proud of who I am, so I don’t care. I don’t have a problem. I was illegal then, now I’m legal and I don’t care. There are more important issues to deal with.
I think it’s a word that makes you think of a negative concept because the word alien, which makes you think of something that is unknown or something that doesn’t belong here, just makes you think of something that you want to reject, or something that might be dangerous to you. I think it’s a very technical word and it takes away the personal element.
I think its offensive. It’s better and more applicable to find the right word like for example, undocumented immigrant, or just nothing that sounds so offensive.
