DeSantis asks reporter to use correct term, not ‘undocumented,’ call them ‘illegal aliens’

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis implemented new Trump administration terminology as he corrected a journalist asking him about “undocumented immigrants.”

The Republican leader instructed a reporter at a press conference Thursday at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office that it isn’t just semantics when referring to those who have violated U.S. law to enter the country illegally. when asked about the “undocumented immigrants,” DeSantis took a clear stand against any effort to “water down” the terminology as he explained the key differences.

“Florida is home to hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants,” the reporter began.

“The federal government has made clear that the statutory term is not undocumented immigrants; they’re illegal aliens. That’s the statutory term and that’s what it is,” DeSantis interjected.

“Undocumented, it’s like if I get in my car and I forget my wallet. Okay, I don’t have my document, my driver’s license on me. But I still have a right to drive. I just made a mistake,” the governor elaborated.

“This is intentional to come in illegally, and it’s not just the question of missing a document. It’s a question of, you know, you violated the laws that were very clear, and knowingly, and with the help of the cartels in many cases,” DeSantis added.

The reporter rephrased his question, this time using the correct words, but adding, “Or whatever you want to call it.”

The term “undocumented noncitizen” was scrubbed by the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security.

“It is not the role of the Department or its components to substitute alternative politically charged terminology in our official documents for terminology used by Congress in statutes signed by the President of the United States,” Acting DHS Secretary Benjamine Huffman wrote in a memo, adding that he revoked “all memos, guidance, and any other directives that direct personnel to avoid using language included in immigration law.”

Terms like “alien” were replaced with more politically correct terminology like “noncitizen” and “assimilation” was referred to as “integration” under President Joe BIden’s administration.

Social media users applauded DeSantis for taking a stand against the immigration word games.

Frieda Powers

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