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City Council Axes Terms ‘Alien’ and ‘Illegal Immigrant’ on Official Documents

Council Member Francisco Moya at the virtual city council hearing (Twitter)

May 29, 2020 By Allie Griffin

The City Council voted to axe the terms “alien” and “illegal immigrant” from all official city documents, laws and rules Thursday.

The terms are offensive and discriminatory toward undocumented immigrants, said Elmhurst Council Member Francisco Moya, who introduced the bill in January.

The term to replace the phrases will now be “noncitizen.”

“No human being is illegal,” Moya said. “‘Illegal immigrant’ and ‘alien’ are dehumanizing and divisive and they don’t belong our city’s guiding documents.”

Council Speaker Corey Johnson praised the bill’s 46-4 vote. He said New York City is the first city to end the use of the terms in their official documents.

Four council members voted against the bill, including Glendale Council Member Robert Holden.

“It’s like the speech police is out again,” Holden told the New York Post. “Alien is a term used for someone who is from another area, another land. That’s a term used in Congress and in the government.”

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8 Comments

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Karen Karen

Every 311 online form ends with “Citizen” FYI, just shows none of these cms ever filled out a 311 online complaint

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COCED

Next step for City council is to axe illegal immigrants as a class, to be done with the issue.
It’s good to know that members of the CC have no better way to spend their time than to work on words and definitions which we, the residents and citizens may use with their permission.

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coced

Next step for City Council is to axe illegal immigrants as a class, to be done with the issue.

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Joe Zullo

Once again, Councilman Bob Holden is the voice of sanity and reason. Immigration status and citizenship have specific legal definitions. Xenophobia and/or racism are not the issue. Over the coming years, decades, this small semantical modification will subtlety bolster the agenda of those who support the narrative for open borders.

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Sunny boy

I completely disagree with the city council. It is dehumanizing and offensive for all of us who immigrated here legally.

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Why can't we just encourage them to come here legally?

I have no problem with immigrants at all but let us know you’re here! I’d that so much to ask?

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Resident

Insane. “Alien” is correct if you are from somewhere else.
“Illegal” is the correct term for an immigrant who is not here legally.

These are facts.

The facts don’t care about your feelings.

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