AAJA Statement on Use of "Illegals"
in News Media

Contact: Rene Astudillo, AAJA Executive Director, (415) 346-2051 or ReneA@aaja.org.

The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) fully supports the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) in calling on the news media to use caution with terminology when referring to undocumented immigrants, workers and laborers.

Any reference to "illegals" or "illegal aliens" can heighten xenophobia, skew public debate on immigration issues, and put the lives and well-being of all non-U.S. citizens (undocumented and documented) in this country at risk by suggesting they are criminals and do not belong in the U.S.

Millions of Asian Americans are directly and indirectly affected by the current immigration debate and AAJA urges the news media not to cast a wide net -- through insensitive labels -- that would dehumanize an entire sector of our society.

Read the NAHJ media release, which includes definitions and terminology.

Consider the following resources for further reference:
-AAJA Handbook, "All-American: How to Cover Asian America".
-Asian American Justice Center, a national non-profit civil rights organization.
-New America Media, the country's largest collaboration of ethnic media.

About AAJA
The Asian American Journalists Association is a non-profit professional and educational organization with more than 2,000 members today. Founded in 1981, AAJA has been at the forefront of change in the journalism industry. AAJA's mission is to encourage Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) to enter the ranks of journalism, to work for fair and accurate coverage of AAPIs, and to increase the number of AAPI journalists and news managers in the industry. AAJA is an alliance partner in UNITY Journalists of Color, along with the Native American Journalists Association, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and National Association of Black Journalists. For more information, visit www.aaja.org.