The evolving language of “illegal” migration
- In Federal law, the term for someone who entered the U.S. illegally, or stayed illegally, is “illegal alien“.
- “Illegal alien” long ago became “illegal immigrant” in pop culture and language.
- “Illegal immigrant” then gave way to “undocumented immigrant“
- “Undocumented immigrant” was then changed to “undocumented migrant“
- In recent years, the media replaced this with just “migrant” blurring the distinction between legal immigration and illegal immigration. All are lumped together.
- A Newsweek reporter is now using the term “unauthorized citizen” (see below). Will this become the new terminology? Some communities allow non-citizens to vote in local elections, such as for school boards and parks and some governments provide taxpayer funded financial aid (for housing, health care and K-12 and university education) and legal support to contest detainment for being in the country illegally. In my state, Oregon an undocumented migrant can get a driver’s license, receive Medicaid and other government services. These activities and actions seem to be leaning towards “unauthorized citizen“.
- The vocabulary evolves because someone chose to evolve it. Often, this occurs due to media propaganda – and did not arise from a “grass roots” response of the people. Instead, the language is altered as part of an influence/propaganda effort, and is often done by public relations consultants and media operatives. Read the following to learn how the Guardian invented new terminology to be used with “climate change”: Climate communications and Journalism’ish: Crisis, Emergency, Deniers and the language of propaganda in The Guardian – Social Panic. More here.
On my Travel blog I have written many posts about the importance and role of legal immigration for all countries.
The above comments are in regards to how changing the language itself is a form of propaganda messaging to persuade a group of people (the target of the messaging) to adopt someone else’s agenda.
In December 2025, I asked Copilot AI about the terminology for describing immigrants
Under U.S. federal law, the formal statutory term is “alien”, and in certain contexts “illegal alien” appears in the code. However, the phrase is used sparingly in statutes, while “alien” remains the consistent legal term.
📜 What Federal Law Actually Says
- Immigration and Nationality Act (INA): The INA defines an “alien” as “any person not a citizen or national of the United States.” This is the baseline legal term used throughout Title 8 of the U.S. Code.
- Improper entry statute (8 U.S.C. § 1325): This law criminalizes unauthorized entry by an alien — someone entering without inspection or by misrepresentation.
- Other statutes (8 U.S.C. § 1324): Cover offenses like smuggling, transporting, or harboring unauthorized aliens.
- Use of “illegal alien”: The phrase “illegal alien” does appear in federal law and case law, but not as a universal definition.
🗣️ Why the Terminology Shifted
- Legal vs. policy language: Courts and statutes stick to alien or occasionally illegal alien.
- Administrative practice: Agencies like USCIS and ICE often use “undocumented immigrant” or “noncitizen” in public-facing materials.
- Political and cultural framing: “Illegal immigrant” and “undocumented immigrant” became common in media and advocacy to soften or reframe the connotation of “alien.”
- Recent changes: In 2021, the Biden administration directed immigration agencies to replace “alien” with “noncitizen” in official communications, though the statutory language in Title 8 remains unchanged.
⚖️ The Current Proper Legal Definition
- Statutory term: Alien — still the controlling legal word in federal law.
- Contextual usage: “Illegal alien” is legally valid but not the universal statutory phrase; it appears in some provisions and case law.
- Modern practice: “Noncitizen” or “undocumented immigrant” are policy and cultural terms, not legal definitions.