ORWELLIAN: The New York Times, NPR, The Washington Post, and Axios are now calling illegal aliens "unauthorized immigrants." pic.twitter.com/KZZRP2exn7
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) June 3, 2025
The term “illegal al*en” does appear in U.S. federal law, specifically in Title 8 of the U.S. Code, which governs immigration. The phrase is used in legal contexts to refer to individuals who enter or remain in the United States without authorization.
While some institutions and media outlets have moved away from using the term in favor of alternatives like “undocumented immigrant”, the legal framework still recognizes “illegal al*en” as a valid designation. Efforts have been made to replace the term in official government language, but as of now, it remains part of federal statutes.
Sources:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1325
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2018/may/09/steve-mccraw/illegal-alien-legal-term-federal-law/
https://www.cato.org/blog/illegal-alien-one-many-correct-legal-terms-illegal-immigrant