Despite criticism, AP Stylebook dictates that journalists use ‘illegal immigrant’

When reporting on people who are in the U.S. without permission, should journalists refer to them as “illegal” or “undocumented”? The answer depends on who you ask. The AP Stylebook advises journalists to use “illegal immigrants.” But some journalists and news consumers say this term is dehumanizing and legally inaccurate. And because it’s a civil — and not a criminal — violation in the U.S., some professional journalist associations argue that “illegal immigration” wrongly implies criminality. For a further look at this terminological controversy, click here and here.

KJ