Proud “undocumented Filipino American” Jose Antonio Vargas recently revealed his membership in the Word Police when he alerted the editors of the Washington Post that one of its reporters was using the words “illegal” and “illegal alien” in his tweets.
Vargas has an op-ed in today’s Los Angeles Times in which he explains the problem with the word “alien” and gives kudos to Gov. Jerry Brown for earlier this week signing a bill that will remove from the California labor code the word “alien” to describe foreign-born workers.
In other immigration news, Jerry Brown signed a bill today deleting the term “alien” from the California Labor Code.
— Kate Linthicum (@katelinthicum) August 10, 2015
Calif Jerry 'Moonbeam' Brown Helps Illegals By Striking ID 'Alien' Illegal To Use..Voter Fraud Will Be Worst In Calif Then Any USA State!
— Dog (@u2biker) August 10, 2015
Jerry Brown signs bill banning the word "alien" from California labor law http://t.co/jzgLGdBB1m Not "illegal alien" but any use of "alien".
— Mark Krikorian (@MarkSKrikorian) August 11, 2015
The irony of Governor Moonbeam signing this is a bit much. I have to imagine it's a joke — but so is California. http://t.co/X400BW4Il1
— (((≠))) (@ThomasHCrown) August 11, 2015
Reason #96 my 5th generation wife and I are leaving California.
Gov Jerry Brown signs bill banning the word "alien." pic.twitter.com/i84lgwRv8b
— RufusKings1776 (@RufusKings1776) August 11, 2015
https://twitter.com/SassyPantsjj/status/631928018668097536
.@JerryBrownGov how about we use the word(s) illegal foreign leeches? http://t.co/2v5XD9OraV
— The Head Jerk (@TheHeadJerk) August 13, 2015
The bill to remove the word was written by Democratic Sen. Tony Mendoza, “because it is now commonly considered a derogatory term with very negative connotations.”
CA labor law to no longer use the term “alien” to describe someone who's in the US illegally http://t.co/CaaPKx6v3w pic.twitter.com/VoXKH07sFm
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) August 12, 2015
In his op-ed, Vargas adds that the word alien “is nothing but alienating. And when coupled with ‘illegal,’ it’s especially toxic. The words seep into the psyche, sometimes to the point of paralysis. They’re dehumanizing.”
“Of course, changing a word here and there can’t fully address the tangible problems facing the country’s undocumented population,” he adds. “But language frames the political conversation. And more humane language can lead to more humane policies, and vice versa.”
I am not an "alien"; immigrants are not "aliens": http://t.co/IrgzDlU5Lb via @latimes, @emergingUS @DefineAmerican #wordsmatter
— Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) August 13, 2015
@joseiswriting @jorgeramosnews @latimes @emergingUS @DefineAmerican http://t.co/K6gTlImdTI What is Emoji for "yes, you are"?
— D.A. King (@DAKDIS) August 13, 2015
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