Jan 22, 2025 - Politics & Policy
Scoop: ICE returns to calling immigrants "aliens"
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) leadership has directed employees to refer to foreign nationals as "aliens" in all "internal and external communications," according to an internal memo obtained by Axios.
Why it matters: The early Trump move is both in line with anti-DEI and hardline immigration rhetoric.
- The new memo is another sign of how the administration came in ready to make clear their aggressive stance on combatting illegal immigration, right away.
- Immigration advocates criticize the term for being offensive, while immigration restrictionists defend using "alien" because it's what's used in the Immigration and Nationality Act.
- Shortly after taking office, former President Biden's team moved away from the statutory language, pushing for more "more inclusive" words instead.
Driving the news: Acting ICE director Caleb Vitello is reverting the language guidance back, according to a memo dated Tuesday and addressed to agency leadership.
- The directive rescinds the memo from 2021, which had changed the official terminology from "alien" to "noncitizen."
- The new directive from Vitello specifies that instead of "noncitizen," employees are to use the term "alien." It also replaces "noncitizenship" with "alienage."
Zoom out: Trump has made clear for years that he intends an explosive and sweeping crackdown on immigration to the U.S. in his second term.
- He has already signed orders to resume his Remain in Mexico policy, end birthright citizenship, declare a national emergency at the border, halt refugee admissions, among other actions.
